Christian Counseling for Anxiety

Anxiety is a common disorder, affecting over six million adults alone in the United States every year. Though there are many forms of anxiety and anxiety disorders, the most common form is called Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Children, teens, and adults experience anxiety differently, and people may feel anxious at different levels of intensity, which is normal. Generalized Anxiety Disorder may be diagnosed when someone is having:

• Persistent and consuming worry or anxiety that is out of proportion
• Overthinking solutions to worst-case situations
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Inability to relax, feelings of restlessness, or feeling on edge
• Nervousness or jumpiness
• Fatigue or trouble sleeping
• Muscle aches and tension
• Trouble breathing or tightness of chest
• Sweating
• Shaking, trembling, or twitching
• Panic
• Nausea, diarrhea, or IBS
• Headaches

If these symptoms chronically affect your daily life for six months or more, a diagnosis of anxiety is likely. Other anxiety disorders are similar to but different from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, such as Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Separation Anxiety Disorder. The counselors at Laguna will be able to assess your situation further to determine an appropriate diagnosis and proper course of treatment.

Some of the common types of therapy used to treat anxiety at Laguna Christian Counseling are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Exposure Therapy. Clients may also seek medication treatment from a Psychiatrist or other Physician. A counselor will teach their client relaxation skills like meditation, deep breathing, visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, prayer, and others.

They may also work to challenge and replace worrying thoughts or engage in mindfulness practices. Though anxiety can be debilitating, it is treatable. If someone is experiencing these symptoms mentioned and is struggling knowing how to manage them, it may be time to seek counseling to be able to understand and effectively handle