Dr. Grisel Lopez-Escobar, PhD (in Counseling),
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Providing Virtual Therapy to Adult Clients
in the States of AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, IN, LA, MA, ME, NV, OR, SC, TX, UT, VT, WI & WY, USA
Specializing in Supporting Clients who are Newly Secular or Deconstructing from High Control Religions, Groups or Cults: Religious Trauma / Faith Crisis, Religious Deconstruction / Purity Culture / Religious Residue / Mixed-Faith Relationships / Secular Therapy
Apologetics Fatigue
Emotional and mental exhaustion from constantly defending or rationalizing one's faith against doubts or external critiques
You feel drained every time someone asks you why you believe what you believe.
You keep re-reading the same theological defenses but feel less convinced each time.
You dread conversations where you might have to defend your faith again.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Heightened anxiety could occur, especially in group settings with opposing views.
Internalized shame may develop due to a perceived "weak faith" or mental exhaustion.
Burnout and dissociation from religious practice can result over time.