January 25, 2023 

Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health

A Conversation About Family Caregiving and Mental Health 

Season 2 Episode 5

In this episode our co hosts discuss contemporary mental health issues related to family caregiving. Each host gives a personal story about how caregiving for a family member has impacted their lives and how they each take care of their own mental health in the process. They provide tips on how to manage family caregiving and how to take care of yourself in the process. 

The co-hosts, Xiomara A. Sosa and Victoria Lockridge have an honest and open discussion regarding family caregiving and invite the listeners to share their stories with them in the comments. 

As always, Studio Talk Podcast encourages their listeners to provide feedback, comments as well as their opinions and experiences about their own experiences with major life transitions that impacted their mental health. The discussion offers resources and references for listeners to review and examine and listeners are encouraged to do their own research and draw their own conclusions about the issues discussed. As with most issues, there are negatives and positives found and the co-hosts recognize that as reality and have an honest conversation about it.

Subscribe on these podcast platforms https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/ 

Submit your request for a discussion topic to studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.com

Visit the podcast website at https://www.studiotalkpodcast.net/

Share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Following are some points for reference: 

Helping to alleviate stress

Trogden, who is the chief operating officer for Counsel NOLA, a group counseling practice in New Orleans, finds DBT distress tolerance skills to be a helpful way for clients to learn to manage stress in a healthy way. She often teaches clients the STOP skill, which, she explains, is an acronym that stands for:

• Stop: Take a pause and don’t immediately react to what’s going on. Maintain control of your body and emotions.
• Take a step back: Get some distance from the situation and take a few deep breaths. Walk away for a moment if possible.
• Observe: Pay attention to what is going on inside of your body and around you. Do a body scan to notice any tension in your body. What are other people around you doing?
• Proceed mindfully: Take a moment to think about the possible outcomes of this situation and respond, rather than react. What is the outcome you want with this situation? What are the consequences of what you might say or do to respond?

References: 

https://ct.counseling.org/2023/01/the-mental-health-needs-of-older-caregivers/?fbclid=IwAR2ZBj77bVyt7P0bgRUlVeWk_HmVftZZIO46G9DECkQL03-fO16yV9hFR1o#

Mental Health Resources:

https://www.thex-studio.org/resources

Studio Talk contact: studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.com

Learn more about our co-hosts: 

Xiomara A. Sosa https://www.swmhs.net/

Victoria Lockridge https://www.wildvioletcounseling.com/

Lisa Early https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lisa-a-early-summerville-sc/1044400

The Studio Talk podcast and the information provided by Xiomara A. Sosa, Victoria Lockridge and Lisa Early are solely intended for educational and social change advocacy purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although they are licensed mental health counselors, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician or appropriate mental health provider before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.

Copyright XAS Consulting, LLC DBA Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health

PLEASE READ: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room. If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.