Men’s Issues Archives | Rockwall Christian Counseling

Finding Rest When You Struggle with Moral OCD or Religious Scrupulosity

Finding Rest When You Struggle with Moral OCD or Religious Scrupulosity

Joseph Bennett, Kate Motaung2026-03-10T10:41:37+00:00March 10th, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, OCD, Spiritual Development|

Am I enough? Am I doing enough? These questions can haunt you in your relationships, at work, when you’re out and about, and in the quieter moments during the night. Such questions can hit even harder when they concern your faith. What ought to be a refuge starts to feel like another cage. That is the case when a person struggles with moral OCD or religious scrupulosity. Your faith is supposed to help you draw nearer to the Lord, and it ought not be a burden or something that makes you feel distant from Him. Even if you struggle with religious scrupulosity, you may not recognize it, which might only add to your distress. It can help to understand what religious scrupulosity is, how it affects you, and how to reconnect with the Lord through a deeper, authentic faith. Religious Scrupulosity and Moral OCD Religious scrupulosity may be a new term that you haven’t heard in everyday conversation. However, if you pause and break them down, the meaning starts to become clear. to God or faith. When we say a person is scrupulous, it typically means that they are quite careful and thorough, with an extreme concern to avoid doing something wrong. Religious scrupulosity, then, is when a person is thorough, careful, and deeply concerned with getting things right when it comes to being moral or fulfilling religious obligations. A person with religious scrupulosity obsesses about moral correctness. They will often experience deep fears and doubts that they are not faithful enough to the Lord, that they are sinning, or that they are failing to meet their religious obligations in some way. One of the challenges of religious scrupulosity is that the individual feels like a failure despite their best and sincere efforts at practicing their faith. This condition is [...]

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How to Handle Anger Problems Effectively

How to Handle Anger Problems Effectively

Stacy Davis, Kate Motaung2026-02-26T06:38:35+00:00February 26th, 2026|Anger Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

When the Lord created people, it was with a great purpose in mind. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:26-27, NIV God partners with humans to rule over creation and to nurture its fruitfulness. This is mind-blowing and an amazing reminder of who we were made to be. Part of how the Lord made us was with our emotions, and they play a role in how we are as we move about in the world. One of the challenges we face is how to manage those emotions well so that we continue to flourish, and our relationships remain healthy. Anger is one such emotion. Anger is a common emotion, and often when that anger is expressed, it’s not in the most positive or constructive way. If we are honest with ourselves, we also find ourselves getting angry without knowing why. When we do know why that anger may be unjustified or even seem petty. Anger plays an important role in our lives, but it can become a problem that undermines our ability to do what the Lord would have us do. The Place of Anger in Our Lives Is there a place for anger in our lives? Depending on who you ask, anger could be seen as something entirely out of place for a believer, as wholly appropriate and justified, especially when directed toward certain ends, or as an emotion that requires wisdom to [...]

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7 Signs of Unresolved Trauma in Men

7 Signs of Unresolved Trauma in Men

Joseph Bennett, Kate Motaung2025-09-02T09:54:05+00:00September 2nd, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Trauma|

The vast majority of people will have to navigate trauma at some point in their lives, if not in themselves, then with their loved ones. Unresolved trauma lies unseen in a person, usually only becoming apparent in our adult lives as we enter serious relationships. Trauma manifests uniquely in everyone. However, some common signs of trauma can be specific to gender. Whether it is in the way they handle their emotions or in the way that they have been affected by toxic masculinity, unresolved trauma is often at the root of behavioral problems that affect and damage men’s relationships. If we want to have healthy and intimate relationships, we might have to begin addressing the unresolved trauma in our lives. Old Wounds Some traumas are ongoing and complex, causing much damage and leaving noticeable marks on a person. However, some events barely even register as traumatic. It is only later in life, when issues pop up, that we might realize we were deeply affected by trauma. The common saying that ‘time heals all wounds’ is untrue; all that time does is cover the memory of the trauma. When a person experiences trauma, especially if it is ongoing trauma, they build beliefs around the traumatic events. For example, a child who is frequently left alone or ignored will begin to believe that they are unworthy of anyone’s attention and care. When a person doesn’t quite understand why they are being treated a certain way, they tend to fill in the blanks. Sometimes they do this in the most hurtful of ways, coming to the bleakest conclusions about themselves. Seven Signs of Unresolved Trauma in Men When you peel back the layers, at the core of any trauma is the feeling of being unsafe. Men and boys in America are conditioned and [...]

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How to Deal with Anxiety Attacks

How to Deal with Anxiety Attacks

Melissa Plantz2025-06-21T06:12:15+00:00June 23rd, 2025|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

Anxiety attacks come on suddenly and are often referred to as panic attacks. If you have experienced them, you are probably wondering how to deal with anxiety attacks. The good news is that there are strategies you can use to lessen the severity of an attack and lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of having another one. Tips for Dealing with Anxiety Attacks Learning how to deal with anxiety attacks takes away their power. No longer will you be worried about having a sudden panic attack in a crowded store or on the road. You will learn to ground yourself in the present, focus your mind, use your senses, and improve your physical and cognitive health. As you read the suggestions below, choose a few to try. Specific strategies improve your health, but only if you practice them daily. If you have any questions, consult a counselor. Try to step away Stress and anxiety can trigger an attack due to an increase in cortisol and adrenaline, hormones responsible for the fight-or-flight response. Try to step away from the situation when you become nervous and anxious. This might mean pulling the car over to a safe place or walking out of a room. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly in between each one. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing and heart rate. Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system to reduce anxiety. Ground yourself Grounding brings you back into the present moment and away from fears and worries. Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Method of grounding by focusing your mind on your surroundings. First, look around at the items closest to you. Name five things you can see. Next, find four things you can touch. Notice their texture. Then, name three things you can hear. Next, [...]

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Chronic Alcohol Use: Finding Freedom from Alcohol Dependence

Chronic Alcohol Use: Finding Freedom from Alcohol Dependence

Jennifer Kooshian2025-10-11T08:42:53+00:00March 6th, 2025|Chemical Dependency, Featured, Group Counseling, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

If you struggle with chronic alcohol use, help is available at Texas Christian Counseling in Rockwall, Texas. You can experience freedom and hope. One set of the sayings in the biblical book of Proverbs reads thus: Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?” – Proverbs 23:29-35, NIV While wine may look good to begin with, your use of it may lead to damaging results such as woe, sorrow, strife, complaints, and needless bruises, to name a few. The Bible has a nuanced understanding of how to address the question of alcohol. As with other areas of our lives, one of the things we’re required to do is exercise wisdom in how we handle things like alcohol. One reason for this is that even if it’s good, it’s easy to fall under the influence or mastery of something, and for you to no longer be in control (1 Corinthians 6:12). Alcohol can be a cruel master, affecting your health and every area of your life. What is chronic alcohol use? There’s a difference between taking a little wine, for whatever purpose (1 Timothy [...]

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Dating Advice for Men: 5 Tips for Long-Distance Relationships

Dating Advice for Men: 5 Tips for Long-Distance Relationships

Jennifer Kooshian2025-10-11T08:43:07+00:00February 4th, 2025|Featured, Men’s Issues, Relationship Issues|

Being in a relationship with someone brings a unique blend of blessings and challenges. These will vary depending on who you’re in the relationship with, the nature of your relationship, and the circumstances you’re in at the moment. At its core, however, relationships (whether short or long-distance relationships) are about two people with a bond who have committed themselves to each other, to love and support each other as well as work through challenges they may face.A long-distance relationship isn’t radically different from other relationships but being apart from the person you care about does bring certain challenges. Likewise, though, it also offers opportunities that may strengthen the relationship. A long-distance relationship has every chance of being as rich and fulfilling as any other kind of relationship, but it’s wise to know what you’re getting yourself into.Long-Distance Relationships and YouPeople come into a long-distance relationship in different ways. Some couples are in an in-person relationship for a while before circumstances shift, and one or both parties change locations while deciding to stay together. It could be a change for college, work, to take care of family, or for other reasons. The change could be for a short or long season, or the relationship may be periodically long-distance, like service members who deploy to duty.Other relationships start their life as a long-distance relationship. Sometimes this carries the anxiety of what it will be like to meet and interact in person, or if it’s an elaborate online scam after all. However your relationship began, there are some things to consider, including ways to make a long-distance relationship work.Making Long-Distance Relationships WorkLong-distance relationships will have their blessings, quirks, and challenges. Some things to consider as you go into such a relationship include:Do you do well with distance?Likely the most obvious thing to consider [...]

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