Biblical Counseling.pdf - Online Christian Library

note:Illus: What if I were to attend a class reunion. While I told myself it was going to be fun, etc.,and I should have all good emotions, what if I had put on seventy-five pounds and just beenreleased from jail? Now what would I think about? What would I be telling myself? Mythoughts about it could provoke a crisis in my own life, at least in feelings. This helps us tounderstand that for some persons an event will hardly touch their lives and for others thesame event can be traumatic.B. What History Did the Person Bring Into This Crisis?No crisis is an isolated event; what people bring into the crisis has great bearing onhow they will deal with it, and how they survive it. (A desk plaque read: I canhandle just about anything but adversity.) For some that is true.note:Those who have trouble handling adversity could well include the following:* people already hurting and emotionally weak.* people in poor physical condition.* people who are adept at denying reality.* people who are addicted (drinking, smoking, eating problems, talking,excessively, drugs, sexual addictions, etc.)* people who struggle with excessive guilt.* people who are quick to blame others, and seldom see any fault or sin intheir own lives.* people who are co-dependent (or those very independent or too dependent).* people without faith or who have little faith or an immature faith.The religious or the saved can fall apart as easily as others if certain things are allowed tobuild in their lives. A deep and abiding faith in the sovereignty of God and the unchanginglove of Christ should be assets for a long-term crisis resolution.C. What Support Does the Person Have?To find support in the midst of the crisis is very helpful. The social support theperson receives can spell the difference between resolution or long-term disastrouseffects.To find a network of support through family and friends can help to bear much ofthe stress in the assaults of life. It can make a difference in the blessing the churchexperiences in assisting in the victory, as well.D. What Kinds of Symptoms Seem to Be Present?Probably there will be a number of symptoms present in the life of the distressedand devastated, these could include the following: Headaches, vomiting, hyperventilation,fainting, depression, panic, feeling desperate, being overwhelmed, frantic, shut down of abilities,defeated, sleeplessness, bleeding ulcers, etc.If the person is contemplating suicide, it will probably result from the feeling that hecan no longer endure the pain. He cannot make the "hurting" stop, so death looks moreinviting than the pain faced through living.©2000, Revival in the Home Ministries 62