Page 131 - Biblical Counseling II-Textbook

incapacitated by their efforts to avoid the feared situation. Marilyn, an otherwise healthy and happy 28-
year-old, so fears thunderstorms that she feels anxious as soon as a weather forecaster mentions
possible storms later in the week. If her husband is away and a storm is forecast, she may stay with a
close relative. During a storm, she hides from windows and buries her head to avoid seeing the lightning
(Myers, 2012).

Other specific phobias may focus on animals, insects, heights, blood, or close spaces. People avoid the
stimulus that arouses the fear, hiding during thunderstorms or avoiding high places. Not all phobias
have such specific triggers. Social phobia is shyness
taken to an extreme. Those with a social phobia, an
intense fear of being criticized by others, avoid
potentially embarrassing social situations, such as
speaking up, eating out, or going to parties – or will
sweat, tremble, or get sick when doing so (Myers, 2012).

People who have experienced several panic attacks may
come to fear the fear itself and avoid situations where
the panic has struck before. If the fear is intense enough,
it may become agoraphobia, fear or avoidance of
situations in which escape might be difficult or help
unavailable when panic strikes. Given such fear, people
may avoid being outside the home, in a crowd, on a bus,
or on an elevator (Myers, 2012).
(Drawing by AxurLazuly on deviantart.com)

Depression
“Depression is a common mental disorder and one of the main causes of disability worldwide. Globally,

an estimated 264 million people are affected by depression. More women are affected than men.
Depression is characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth,
disturbed sleep or appetite, tiredness, and poor concentration. People with depression may also have
multiple physical complaints with no apparent physical cause. Depression can be long-lasting or
recurrent, substantially impairing people’s ability to function at work or school and to cope with daily
life. At its most severe, depression can lead to suicide” (“Mental Disorders,” p. 1, 2019).”

“As anxiety is a response to the threat of future loss, depressed mood is often a response to past and
current loss. About one in four people diagnosed with depression is simply struggling with the normal
emotional impact of a significant loss, such as a loved one’s death, a ruptured marriage, a lost job. To
feel bad in reaction to profoundly sad events is to be in touch with reality” (Myers, 2009).

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