Thriving with Anxiety & Depression
Exercises and Resources to Accompany the ADAA Public Education Webinar
Watch the webinarDownloadable Exercises
In the webinar, Dr. Ashley shares 3 positive psychology exercises designed to help promote thriving.
Make Your Strengths PERMA-nent
This exercise uses your strengths to help you thrive.
Instructions: First, identify your signature strengths. You can do that by considering positive feedback you've gotten from others, thinking about the qualities you displayed during times when you were at your best, and/or by completing the VIA Survey of Character Strengths. Then, find ways to use your strengths to boost your PERMA factors.
This exercise is from Peak Mind's signature program, ASCEND.
Bright Spots & Victories
This exercise is designed to help train your brain to be less negative, to help you notice and savor positive experiences, and to help you learn to be kinder to yourself.
Gratitude Visit
This exercise not only taps into the benefits of a gratitude practice, but it also strengthens your relationships.
Instructions: Think of someone still living who has had a positive impact on your life. Write them a letter expressing what they did, how they made a difference, and how you feel about it. Be concrete and detailed! Then, read this letter to them, either in person or virtually. You'll both benefit from the experience.
Free Resources
The Building Psychological Strength Podcast
More and more, people are seeing the benefits of building resilience, building confidence, building mental toughness and flexibility, and moving past fear and anxiety in their lives. April Seifert, Ph.D., hosts this powerful podcast that will help you build psychological strength through interviews and information from some of the world's leading experts in the fields of Psychology and Life Design. It's time to go beyond merely surviving. It's time to thrive!
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBEGreater Good Science Center at Berkeley University
The GCSC is a rich resource for all things wellbeing. Learn from leaders in the field of positive psychology through their blog posts, magazine, and podcast.
Science of Well-being Course from Yale University
The most popular course from Yale is now available virtually, and it's free! Learn and apply the science of well-being.
Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania
Led by Dr. Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology, the Positive Psychology Center at UPenn shares research, resources, and world-wide projects.
