Anxiety and Depression.
I probably do not need to explain why this topic is so important. It seems to affect every person in some way or another. Having actionable skills to overcome and navigate these challenging emotions is what we set out to do as part of the ‘Ohana Mother Daughter Experience Live weekly events; and I am so glad we did!
Our guest speaker on this topic, Dr. Krystal Lopez, is an expert on managing life’s bigger emotions. Krystal helps people overcome their emotional challenges and reach their “Life Worth Living Goals”. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist currently working at the DBT Center of Orange County.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is one of the nation’s highest ranked skills training centers that has effectively helped people shift out of depression, anxiety and other debilitating emotions. It is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy tries to identify and change negative thinking patterns and pushes for positive behavioral changes.
We really enjoyed the practical breakdown on to handle anxious or depressive emotions.
Here is a clip we pulled from Dr. Krystal’s talk as she explained how to address these emotions and taught us the STOP skill. This skill offers the opportunity to create space to respond in a different way and is so useful!
Additionally, I shared the story of Elijah with the group.
Elijah was a great prophet in the Bible who stood courageously in his faith in God, yet faced many challenges along his journey of sharing the message of God to people groups. He grew very discouraged and went away to hide and even wanted to die. Sounds like depression, right? What’s awesome is that God met him there and renewed Elijah’s peace and faith.
Another verse from the Bible that really helps me when I need to navigate difficult emotions is Philippians 4:6-7 which says,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When we feel anxious or burdened, God is there to carry our burdens!
I loved this whole ‘Ohana session because it equipped all of us mothers and daughters to live with courage and gave us practical tools to navigate the tricky emotions we will all face in this life!
Here are two DBT Skill Videos Dr. Krystal shared with us:
The TIP Skills: To change your body and emotions when the emotions feel really heavy.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method: A Grounding Exercise to Manage Anxiety.
If anxiety or depression is an issue for you, please be an advocate for yourself, be proactive and seek the help you need. I also recommend seeking nutritional advise to support your mind and body to function at its best!
There is hope for you, and a life worth living! You are loved!
To learn more about the ‘Ohana Mother Daughter Experience, click here.
