Talking With Dr Toy

Anne Cetas stated, "Much like a mom comforting her child, God bends down low to tenderly care for us in our pain." The humility and care of a God bending down low to comfort and extend us compassion, paints a beautiful but yet complex picture of God, because instead of comforting us, why won't God just take the pain away?" It may be beyond our finite minds to adequately answer this question. Perhaps the solace is not in what we believe God should do or how it should be done, but in the fact that whatever plight we are anchored in, we don't have to face it alone. His name is Emmanuel--God with us. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com. 

One of my mentors once told me that even the oak tree, one of the strongest trees, has a root system that anchors and sustains it. I've always remembered that and conveyed that to my clients because whether we accept it or not, we all need support. Social support has been defined as, "the physical and emotional comfort given to you by your family, friends, co-workers and others. It’s knowing that you are part of a community of people who love and care for you, value you and think well of you." Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com  

Shouldn't I feel happy during this festive season? It depends, if that's what you truly feel. Sometimes we fall into this trap of requiring ourselves to feel what we think we should feel instead of authentically experiencing what we are actually feeling. Gulino expressed that allowing ourselves to experience the highs as well as the lows helps us to process and pass the emotion. The expectations we hold regarding our emotions may also be a blessing or a burden. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com.

Brook Lane wrote an article entitled, "Managing Expectations During the Holiday Season." The article provides some insight into how expectations of ourselves and others contribute to the stress and burdensomeness experienced during the holiday season. She posed some powerful questions that are worth pausing to explore regarding the why, how, and ways we experience expectations during this season. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com 

The perpetuated picturesque view of the holiday season may seem contrary to some individuals' lived realities consumed by violence, the death of loved ones, economic struggle, and loneliness. We may fall into the trap of feeling pressured to choose one or the other instead of creating a path to simultaneously hold both.  This path may require more emotional energy, but it also may produce more valuable lessons and reflective experiences to not only initiate individual healing but communal healing. Tune into the podcast www.talkingwithdrtoy.com 

Stress is a key ingredient of prolonged survivor mode. We have the option to either manage stress or continue to allow stress to manage our lives. A vital anchor in stress management is self investment and internalization of one's worth and value instead of harsh judgment. After assessing the prevalence of stress in our lives, it's time to take the next step of taking action to effectively manage the stress. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com.  

Prolonged survival mode does not afford individuals the time nor the desire to assess their well-being. We may think that pausing to assess our well-being is a luxury we can't afford, but in reality, it is a necessity our holistic selves can't afford to negate. An awareness and assessment of our well-being may indicate how much stress is ruling and overtaking our lives. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com. 

Do you know when you're stressed? When was the last time you paused to assess your stress level and how it manifests in your body, mind, and behaviors? Many of us have lived with stress so long that its not only become a lifestyle but an identity. Be mindful that stress shows up differently for individuals and its important to be aware of how stress shows up and shows out in your system. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com. 

Stress has been defined by the American Institute of Stress as "A condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that the demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize." Stress has been deemed as the silent killer and according to various resources many diseases and illnesses are stress related such as diabetes, hypertension, strokes, etc., Although we've normalized living with prolonged stress, the effects on the body are unhealthy and not so silent. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com.

Stress has been defined as "A feeling of emotional or physical strain or tension." Stress is inevitable and everyone experiences it. Our bodies are designed to manage small doses of stress but what happens when the stress becomes chronic? Our bodies were not designed to handle chronic stress which is why it can have damaging effects on our bodies. The way we respond to stress will determine the state of our well-being. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com