Today on the podcast, my guest is Dr. Michelle Bengtson (PhD, Nova Southeastern University) is an international speaker, and the author of best-selling “Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression.”She has been a neuropsychologist for more than twenty years. She is in private practice in Southlake, Texas where she evaluates, diagnoses, and treats children and adults with a variety of medical and mental health disorders. She knows pain and despair firsthand and combines her professional expertise and personal experience with her faith to address issues surrounding medical and mental disorders, both for those who suffer and for those who care for them. She offers sound practical tools, affirms worth, and encourages faith. Dr. Bengtson offers hope as a key to unlock joy and relief—even in the middle of the storm. She and her husband of 30 years have two teenage sons, and reside in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. She blogs regularly on her own site: http://www.DrMichelleBengtson.com
Notes from the show:
It’s hard to know when we’ve gone beyond sadness to depression. But depression is such an epidemic and occurs when sadness is prolonged or goes beyond what is reasonable given the circumstances. It is such an epidemic that by 2020 it’s going to be our greatest epidemic world-wide.
It’s okay to grieve! There is a difference between depression and grief, but sometimes grief can lapse into depression.
Michelle discusses tangible tools to use in the midst of depression, and also what to do when the tools don’t seem to be working. She shares from her own personal experience how debilitating it can feel when this happens, and how to continue fighting for gratitude and hope.
Michelle’s take away – Hope can prevail!
Important tools: prayer, sleep, diet, exercise, counseling, gratitude lists, seeking joy, and Jeremiah 29:11
Scripture for depression Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Asking the Lord to wrap Himself around where evil attempts to spread lies. Let us be thankful that when the enemy comes, his way is always evil, but God has promised that what the enemy intends for evil, God will use for good.
Our prayer for you is that you would experience hope in the midst of depression and know that tools are available to you when you struggle, the most powerful of which is God’s promises found in his Word.
For information regarding Michelle, please visit her website
https://drmichellebengtson.com/
Books mentioned in this episode:
You can also read Dr. Michelle’s share here on 9 tips for coping with anxiety attacks.
Thanks again for tuning into the Counselor Thoughts podcast.
You can follow Michelle on social media by clicking the links below:
https://www.facebook.com/michellenietert/
https://www.instagram.com/michellenietert
She also sends out an occasional prayer letter including her latest information on faith, parenting and mental health as well as speaking engagement locations and topics. Please subscribe here for that information
THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING COUNSELOR THOUGHTS. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MICHELLE OR SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE EPISODES, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT HER – MICHELLE@COUNSELORTHOUGHTS.COM AND IF YOU ARE ENJOYING THIS PODCAST, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBSCRIBE AND TELL US AND OTHERS WHAT YOU THINK BY LEAVING A REVIEW.
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES HERE OR VIA ANDROID HERE
