Dear Michelle,
There are several elements that need to be taken into consideration in searching for an answer to your question. You have to consider the nature and depth of the illness you suffer from, the nature of the medication (and its secondary effects), your doctor's prognosis, the particular policies of individual orders, to name the most obvious.
You must also consider the fact that if you suffer from a social anxiety disorder, there is at least the possibility that the silence and prayer of contemplative life might seem like a very attractive relief to you. From the outside it is difficult to realize just how demanding the contemplative life is, and it requires pretty robust mental health.
I would recommend that you gather full information on your condition (mostly, the points I mention in the first paragraph above) and then speak over a period of time with the vocation directresses of several contemplative convents. If they all tend to dissuade you from pursuing the contemplative vocation, you can be pretty sure that this is a sign from God that it is not your calling. If any of them do encourage you, make sure to tell them that other convents have tried to dissuade you, just to be honest and get a balanced opinion. |