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
Visceral Terror (in Religious Contexts)
Intense, body-based fear rooted in religious teachings, often linked to threats of hell, demonic possession, or divine punishment
You feel physical dread when you think you've sinned.
You panic during natural disasters, thinking it’s divine wrath.
You have nightmares about hell due to vivid sermons.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Religious trauma syndrome can lead to panic attacks.
Somatic symptoms like stomach pain or heart racing may be linked to spiritual fear.
Compulsive rituals may develop to “stay safe” from perceived divine harm.