“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). When your own words will not come, the Psalms give you God’s language for the fear: try our practice for mining the Psalms through an overwhelming season. That verse is an invitation, not a rebuke — and it sits alongside real, effective help. If anxiety has you overwhelmed, you are not failing at faith, and it is never too late to reach out. For our full approach, see anxiety counseling.
What are anxiety symptoms?
The first step in managing anxiety is recognizing it. Anxiety can show up in the body — heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, and insomnia — and in the mind: relentless worry about health, finances, relationships, or safety, and sometimes thoughts of death or self-harm.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7.
You are not alone
Anxiety disorders are among the most common health conditions in the world — and among the most treatable. Talking with someone who understands helps: a friend, a pastor, or a trained therapist can each offer a different kind of relief. “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) is lived out, in part, through people.
What are the main types of anxiety disorders?
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — excessive, hard-to-control worry about everyday life.
- Panic Disorder — recurrent panic attacks and fear of the next one.
- Social Anxiety Disorder — intense fear of being judged in social situations.
- Specific Phobias — outsized fear of a particular object or situation.
- Agoraphobia — fear of places or situations that feel hard to escape.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and PTSD are related conditions often discussed alongside anxiety.
What does a panic attack feel like?
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear with physical symptoms — pounding heart, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, sweating, and a sense of unreality or doom. It can feel like a heart attack, and it peaks and passes. Recognizing “this is a panic attack, and it will pass” is itself part of managing it.
How is anxiety treated?
The best-supported psychotherapy for anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps you identify and change the thoughts and behaviors that fuel anxiety. A large meta-analysis confirms CBT’s efficacy across the anxiety disorders (Carpenter et al., 2018), and effectiveness studies show it works in ordinary clinical practice, not just research settings (Stewart & Chambless, 2009). Medication (often an SSRI) can also help, especially for moderate-to-severe anxiety, and an umbrella review finds both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy effective for anxiety disorders (Leichsenring et al., 2022). Many people do best with a combination, coordinated as one plan.
Do lifestyle changes actually help anxiety?
Yes — as part of the picture, not a replacement for treatment. Exercise is an effective treatment for clinical anxiety (Aylett, Small & Bower, 2018), and sleep, movement, and daily rhythm all matter. We build these into a plan rather than prescribing them as willpower.
Can therapy be done online?
Yes. Guided internet-delivered CBT produces outcomes comparable to face-to-face therapy for anxiety and depression (Carlbring et al., 2018) — which means help is available even when leaving the house feels impossible.
Does faith have a place in anxiety treatment?
A central one, if you want it. Randomized trials of religious and spiritual interventions report reduced anxiety and stress (Gonçalves et al., 2015), and religiously integrated psychotherapy performs at least as well as standard approaches with added benefit for spiritual well-being (Smith, Bartz & Richards, 2007). In practice that looks like lament prayed honestly, Scripture that steadies rather than shames, and skills for the body — held together, at the depth of integration you choose.
What are the risk factors for anxiety?
Common contributors include a history of depression, low self-esteem, adverse or traumatic childhood experiences, chronic stress, and a stressful environment. Anxiety is not a moral failing or a lack of faith; it’s a common human condition with real causes — and real help.
What are common medications for anxiety?
SSRIs such as sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and citalopram are frequently prescribed. Medication decisions belong with a prescriber who knows your history; our psychiatric nurse practitioner coordinates medication with your therapist when it’s the right call.
Reach out — it’s never too late
Anxiety tells you nothing will help and no one has time for you. The research — and the God who invites you to cast your cares on Him — say otherwise. We provide anxiety counseling in person in Glendale, Arizona and by telehealth across Arizona and Washington, and you can screen your symptoms first with our free, anonymous survey.
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References
- Aylett, E., Small, N., & Bower, P. (2018). Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice — a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 18, 559. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5
- Carlbring, P., Andersson, G., Cuijpers, P., Riper, H., & Hedman-Lagerlöf, E. (2018). Internet-based vs. face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric and somatic disorders: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 47(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2017.1401115
- Carpenter, J. K., Andrews, L. A., Witcraft, S. M., Powers, M. B., Smits, J. A. J., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depression and Anxiety, 35(6), 502–514. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22728
- Gonçalves, J. P. B., Lucchetti, G., Menezes, P. R., & Vallada, H. (2015). Religious and spiritual interventions in mental health care: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Psychological Medicine, 45(14), 2937–2949. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291715001166
- Leichsenring, F., Steinert, C., Rabung, S., & Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2022). The efficacy of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies for mental disorders in adults: An umbrella review. World Psychiatry, 21(1), 133–145. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20941
- Smith, T. B., Bartz, J., & Richards, P. S. (2007). Outcomes of religious and spiritual adaptations to psychotherapy: A meta-analytic review. Psychotherapy Research, 17(6), 643–655. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503300701250347
- Stewart, R. E., & Chambless, D. L. (2009). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders in clinical practice: A meta-analysis of effectiveness studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(4), 595–606. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016032
Method note: sources were identified via OpenAlex literature search and screened for retractions and editorial notices via Scite before citation. Unsupported claims from the earlier version of this page (a ketogenic-diet panic-disorder claim and unsourced treatment-response percentages) were removed. Scripture quotations are from the ESV. Educational, not a substitute for individualized clinical care; if you are in crisis, call or text 988. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by Restored Life Counseling’s clinical staff.