Family Christian Counseling LIBRARY

TITLE: Am I The Only One With This Anxiety?

AUTHOR: Merle Brock, M.S.

Statistics

How would you describe your mood today? What is your usual mood? Have you been experiencing anxiety? You are not alone. A 1993 study revealed that anxiety affects 12.6% of the population in any given 12-month period. According to this study anxiety disorders are the most prevalent type of mental diagnosis, rising even above depression. Anxiety and the physical symptoms of it are so closely related that most people with anxiety-related problems most frequently go to a physician. In fact, primary-care physicians report that approximately 30% of their patients seek help with anxiety related problems. Staggering statistics reveal that 19.2% of men and 30.5% of women will experience one of the anxiety disorders some time during their lifetime. I repeat, you are not alone. There is no need to face it alone.

State or Trait?

Each person has a range of responses that is normal for them. This normal level of response is referred to as trait anxiety. It is a part of your personality trait. If one's trait anxiety is too high or maladaptive it is called chronic anxiety. Anxiety that is in response to a particular situation that is stressful is referred to as state anxiety. When state anxiety is too high or maladaptive it is called acute anxiety. There also exists the possibility that acute anxiety may continue beyond that particular stressor and become chronic anxiety.

Symptoms

Symptoms of anxiety are presented in both psychological and physical ways. Physical symptoms include: feeling dizzy, twitches, muscle tension, sweating, diarrhea, frequent urination, and heart racing among others. Psychological symptoms include: hypervigilence, worry, apprehension, insomnia, feeling irritable, and difficulty concentrating. Also, these symptoms are experienced at levels that are out of balance with actual risks. Even the people who experience these symptoms may realize their anxiety is beyond realistic limits but they seem unable to control it. If anxiety has a logical source and is experienced at realistic levels it is not anxiety in the psychological sense.

Diagnosis

Anxiety falls into five broad categories which express how the anxiety is experienced. Also, each category contains additional diagnoses. Anxiety may be, 1) phobic, 2) panic, 3) obsessive-compulsive, 4) stress, or 5) generalized. A diagnosis is only given when anxiety is high and maladaptive. In our human experience anxiety is normal. But for some reason, some people have difficulty coming up with ways to deal with anxiety effectively. Also, some people can handle more anxiety than others. The point at which it becomes maladaptive is different for each person. More than likely, some people are more biologically predisposed to anxiety than others and then some type of stressor sets it off. The starting point of all anxiety diagnoses is an adaptive response to stress. The problem is that sometimes this stress builds and builds until it becomes maladaptive and qualifies as an anxiety diagnosis. At this point anxiety doesn't go away on it's own without some type of treatment, it only continues to get worse.

Counseling

Treatment may come in the form of counseling, medication, or a combination of both. So, what can counseling do? Counseling can help identify the source of anxiety, type of anxiety, and the effects on your life. Therefore, counseling can help you deal with it more effectively. Since anxiety affects not only the victim but also his or her relationships, counseling is also effective in helping other family members understand what their loved one is going through.

Anxiety can easily affect your career therefore, counseling may be instrumental in salvaging your ability to earn a living. Anxiety may frustrate not only the victim but also everyone around them; spouse, children, friends, parents, fellow employees, employers, fellow church members and even strangers you may drive beside or shop beside. Counseling helps smooth things out, helping you to return to a more balanced life. Anxiety often causes a person to think and act in illogical ways. Counseling helps keep you from making bad decisions during a time when you may not be thinking at your full capacity.

Scripture

I believe counseling is best when research and theory are combined with the spiritual aspect. So what does the Bible say about anxiety? Prov. 12:25a NIV expresses a sentiment that those who have experienced anxiety can identify with, "An anxious heart weighs a man down." This verse reveals the burden that anxiety becomes. Matt. 6:27 NIV says, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" This shows us the unfruitfulness of worry. Someone once said that worry is like a rocking chair, you go back and forth but don't get anywhere. In 1 Pet. 5:7 NIV we read "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Although Phil. 4:6 NIV appears to particularly address the physical needs of daily life, I think it is also appropriate for us to examine. It tells us "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. From this we see that prayer also plays a role in combating anxiety. Verse 7 continues by telling us "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Peace. Those who wrestle with anxiety desire it. Seek help from someone who can give you guidance in finding an appropriate treatment for your anxiety. And, in doing so, may you experience the peace of God.

by Merle Brock, M.S.

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