Stress vs. Crisis

Well this week was another really interesting and good week. We learned about stress and crisis. Something I never thought about was the difference between the two. First, stress is a temporary hard time, whereas crisis is more of a long term effect. I know in my life in particular a few weeks ago in my home city there was a school shooting. Where many teenagers were affected and in particular there were two girls I knew very well affected, one of which passed away. Now even though crisis are hard times, what is interesting is they can also bring good things to pass. For example in my home city because of this shooting many were able to come together and really realize the importance of life. I know it really opened up my eyes as well as those I am close too. We are able to more fully understand God’s plan as well as know how to truly help one another and focus on the good during such hard times.  

Now on a family stress and crisis can be good and it can also be bad, according to how we take it. When a family really relies on each other than the family can help take different roles and shift the family so they can function during a stress or crisis. Now, if families can’t do this and can’t learn how to shift those different roles, then that when stress can be too much for a family and can lead to destruction. Nobody wants destruction and that why families are so important and are built to help one another, each of us are born with special gifts and talents and when needed can learn and be blessed with gifts to help take on new roles. For example, when a family member such as a mother leaves, then it is up to the family unit to replace her role and divide it up among everyone. Now, before the stress or crisis that would have divided them up they would not normally know how to do the mothers role or all it entails, but because God is looking out for us he helps us learn and be able to take those roles to help one another.

Now another great thing we learned about is the mood model. This model shows to we can help others who are going through stressful or crisis times in their life. This model helps change thought processes to be able to take negative thoughts and change them to positive. The first thing to do is log their emotion and rank how much they are truly feeling these emotions. Then have them tell their thoughts and then help them change them to positive thoughts and then re-asked what their emotions are. This weekend I was with my fiancée and he was very depressed more than I have ever seen him. I didn’t know how to help him so I did this model with him. He told me he was feeling sad, resentment, and stupid all in the 90-100% zones. Then we talked about his negative thoughts, which was very hard for him to open up about. Then we read some scriptures on how Satan changes our thoughts to negative if we let him in. So, we went through all his negative thoughts and changed them all to positive and true thoughts. By the end, he felt so liberated. I asked him his emotions how and they were peace, gratitude, and he no longer had feelings of sadness or resentment or stupid. I know and testify that this works and it truly can change lives. We must work together and not leave anyone out. I know how much showing love and kindness really does affect everyone and can help people you wouldn’t think were in these hard times.