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Coping with Anxiety: Approaches to Easing Anxiety

Updated: May 17

For many women, like you, who navigate the Criminal justice System, the emotional toll can be heavy. Going through the Criminal Justice System can bring up painful memories, especially when something like a sound, feeling, or situation reminds you of the trauma you have experienced (Lido Wellness Center, n.d).


When past memories come up, anxiety can feel stronger. It’s normal for you to feel more stressed, scared, or overwhelmed during these times. These times are hard!

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is when you feel scared, worried, or uneasy inside. It can make your body react by sweating, feeling tense, or your heart beating fast. Sometimes, anxiety can make it hard to sleep because of scary or upsetting thoughts. You might also feel overwhelmed by simple daily tasks or decisions.


You might even experience something called panic attacks. These are sudden moments of very strong fear, even when there’s no real danger. They can happen quickly and last for a few minutes or longer  (U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d.).


These feelings can feel heavy and weigh on you.


🌿 You deserve support, and it’s available to you whenever you choose 🌿


At Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services (NJCCS), Nada offers a safe, caring space for women like you who have been hurt by others and are dealing with the Criminal Justice System.


Sometimes things can feel really confusing, hard, or unfair. Like when rules are tricky, or people don’t treat you kindly. It’s okay to feel this way because navigating the Criminal Justice System can be a really hard thing to do. Counselling is here to help you feel calm and strong. Together with Nada, you can gain skills to take it one day at a time, helping you feel more in control and hopeful.


Why Counselling Can Be Helpful in Navigating Anxiety


✔ You are worthy of care.

↪Therapy is one of the few places where you can let go and be fully seen. You are not a case file; you are a whole person, deserving of dignity and rest.


✔ A Trauma-Informed Counsellor, like Nada, understands that the challenges you face might come from ongoing problems in the Criminal Justice System.

↪Sometimes unfair treatment or not getting the support you need can really weigh on you, and Nada understands that.


↪It’s not your fault how you’re feeling. Going through the Criminal Justice System can be really confusing and stressful, and it can bring up old pain. Nada will take the time to listen and help you feel safe and supported as you work through these feelings.


✔ Finding Calm Through Support.

In counselling, you’ll learn gentle ways to care for your emotions instead of holding them in. Tools like grounding and deep breathing can help you feel calmer and more in control.


↪Grounding is a self-soothing skill that’s helpful on hard days. Especially when you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stressed. It can help to bring your attention back to the present moment and give your mind a break from heavy thoughts (University of New Hampshire, n.d.).



✔ Allows for long-term healing

↪Even after your case is finished, the feelings you carry can still be really heavy. Healing takes time, and therapy can support you through it, even long after the legal issue is done.



✔ You're not alone anymore

↪Going through the Criminal Justice System can feel really lonely and confusing. But in counselling, you don’t have to do it alone. Support means having someone who listens, helps you understand what’s happening, and stands with you when things feel hard. With support, you can start to feel stronger, safer, and less alone as you take each step forward.

✧ You Are More Than Your Case. You Deserve Peace. ✧

At NJCCS, Nada truly understands how heavy and overwhelming anxiety can feel.


If anxiety has become part of your everyday life, you don’t have to face it on your own. In counselling with Nada, you will be supported to help ease your worries and build your strength.


You’re worthy of compassion and support, and Nada is here to gently guide you through every step of your healing journey. 💙



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Sources

Grow Wellness Group. (n.d.). Therapy for Women: Empowerment & Healing. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from https://www.growwellnessgroup.com/counseling/individual-counseling/therapy-for-women

Lido Wellness Center. (n.d.). Understanding retraumatization. https://lidowellnesscenter.com/understanding-retraumatization/

University of New Hampshire. (n.d.). What is grounding? Psychological and Counseling Services. https://www.unh.edu/pacs/what-grounding#:~:text=Grounding%20is%20a%20self%2Dsoothing,difficulties%20you%20are%20dealing%20with

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Anxiety. MedlinePlus. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://medlineplus.gov/anxiety.html


 
 
 

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