On this week's episode of Finding Her, Julia discusses the topic faith, fear, and hope during COVID-19. She takes these three words and opens up a topic that many of the world is used to hearing. She begins the episode questions to her community about their experiences with COVID-19.
Is it real? Fake?
Do you believe in faith over fear?
Do you believe in science or will it all go away after the election?
Are you on team red or blue?
Have you lost a loved one to COVID?
Do you have a job? Health insurance? Food on the table?
How is your mental health?
How are you children doing being isolated and attending online school?
Julia then takes the initiative to talk about the definitions of faith, fear, and hope adding in personal stories, tips to manage fear, and how the power of hope instills resilience in people dealing with mental illnesses.
Faith is to have complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Believing in your higher power with 100% certanity that it will all work out. Julia opens up and casually shares her faith, but also acknowledges that you can have fear and faith at the same time. You are not broken or weak if you are faithful and scared. Your fear needs to be managed.
Fear in our lives serves a purpose to keep us safe. Fear is a response to a physical and emotional danger. If you didn't feel fear we wouldn't be able to protect ourselves from threats. These threats may have severe consequences or can end in death. It has a strong effect on your mind and body. It is a very powerful emotion.
Anxiety on the other hand, is feelings of unmanaged fear. It is usually involving thoughts of a threat or that something will go wrong in the future, not right now. Fear can present itself in your life as: unable to eat, cold and hot sweats, unable to concentrate, feeling dizzy, tense muscles, fast breathing, and weak or tense muscles. Symptoms present because your body is sensing fear and getting ready for a threat.
Tips to manage your fear:
1. Face it. You are not going to continue participating in avoidance mode.
2. Personal strength: Power of affirmations
3. Embrace and practice positivity.
4. Get out and enjoy nature.
5. Reach out to someone for support.
Finally, Julia ends the show with the word hope. Hope is defined as an attitude which is optimistic that is based on a desire or expectation. She shares that hope and mental health are key to becoming resilient, end feelings of hopelessness, and recovering faster from setbacks.
Please help me continue to normalize talking about mental health within our communities by SHARING THE SHOW WITH ONE PERSON!!
Contact me through email at www.juliabusby.com
FREE RESOURCES:
Mindfulness scripts & goodies: www.mindfulnessexercises.com
Yale Medicine: https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/mindfulness-covid/