Anxiety Archives | Green Lake Christian Counseling

How to Stop Worrying Through Self-Talk

How to Stop Worrying Through Self-Talk

By Angela Yoon|2024-01-30T15:31:33+00:00December 14th, 2023|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

The conversations you have with yourself, in your mind or out loud, can either dial up or dial down the amount you worry about. “Inner talk is one of the most effective, least-used tools available to master the psyche and foster life success,” says Psychologist Ethan Kross. Times have changed since we thought others were crazy for talking to themselves. Many of us are doing it, and self-talk is recognized as an exceptionally useful tool as we navigate our various roles and areas of responsibility as a colleague, parents, siblings, students, and more. The quiet words we have with ourselves can help or hinder us as we learn how to stop worrying through self-talk. There are two types of self-talk. There is the quick reacting, knee jerk, and spontaneous reflex which comes from the emotional side of our brain. It is the hard-wired voice of survival and often it veers toward criticism or being negative which creates the environment required for self-doubt, depression, anxiety, and self-sabotage. The second voice comes from our prefrontal cortex, or thinking brain, and so it is linked to a greater ability to be introspective, deliberate, and have positive thoughts. Your internal voice of kindness is a skill that you have learned to tone down the effect of your emotional brain and give you healthy emotions and reactions such as happiness, lucidity, self-confidence, and composure that help you to stop the voice of worry and panic. The science of self-talk. Interestingly, studies show that how we use this quiet inner voice makes a real difference in our stress levels, how we respond to disappointments, as well as the capacity we have to accomplish tasks and fulfill various roles. If we listen to our natural fight or flight knee-jerk inner voice, we may well be too [...]

Social Anxiety: Signs and Treatment Options

By Christy Wu|2023-12-07T18:19:01+00:00December 7th, 2023|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

Social anxiety can make life challenging. Everyday activities become a struggle. You may not be able to shop inside stores anymore, attend social events, or even spend time with friends. Social interactions are no longer straightforward when your heart and mind race and you worry about how to interact with others or what they think about you. Holiday shopping becomes relegated to online only because you no longer want to deal with the anxiety and the panic. The symptoms of social anxiety will keep you isolated from friends and family, causing you to miss out on being with others in ways that nourish our souls. If you believe you have social anxiety, you may need professional help so you can get back to living your life. Social Anxiety Disorder. Social anxiety can develop at any age, but the roots of the condition often stem from childhood. If you grew up in an environment of being bullied, your parents were overprotective, or you experienced public humiliation, your chances of suffering from social anxiety are higher. Genetics and family history also play a role. There are various degrees of social anxiety, from mild to severe. On one end, you may have the nagging thought that you should escape a conversation before embarrassing yourself. Conversely, you may fear attending an online video meeting because you worry that the other participants may judge you. Worrying about offending someone with a smell, speech, or appearance will keep you from enjoying events with your family. Your spouse may have little patience for your mental condition when they want to go out and have fun, and you are afraid to sit in a crowded movie theater. There may be no basis for these beliefs, but they are cemented into your psyche, and dislodging them may take [...]

What is Group Therapy and What are the Benefits?

By Lisa Velin|2024-04-04T11:01:43+00:00June 28th, 2022|Anxiety, Chemical Dependency, Featured, Grief Counseling, Group Counseling|

Life is better when it is lived with others. After all, we are relational beings at our core. When we encounter hardships, they are easier to bear up under when we have a community of support that stands with us through the storm. The encouragement and support of a community are invaluable to the process of healing. No one wants to feel alone during a crisis, and yet “I feel so alone in this” is a thought that many of us have had during a particularly hard season of life. There are certain issues about which we may feel shame and discomfort at letting other people know, such as addictions or sexual abuse, and those emotions only compound the feeling of isolation. If you are battling alone, or are only familiar with individual counseling, then group counseling may be an alternative to consider. Depending on the nature of the issue you face, group therapy may be the ideal choice to explore your concerns and bring about positive and lasting change to your life. Facing life’s challenges alone makes the journey that much more difficult, and knowing that others understand and share your struggle, others who have gone through it and have come out the other side, others who are willing to support you on your own journey, makes all the difference in the world and might be just what you need. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up…Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Instead of feeling isolated in your struggle, Christian group counseling gives you a community and circle of support made up of like-minded brothers [...]

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