Tools for Triumph over Anxiety & Depression

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ESCAPE from Dark Places

Guideposts to Hope in an Age of Anxiety & Depression

Escape from Dark Places is a motivating story of a mother-and-son journey to triumph over anxiety and depression, answering questions such as, How big is the problem? Why is the number of those suffering trending upward? And how can we stop the stigma? The author draws on history, psychology, science, theology, and philosophy to construct a solution and looks at generational theory for ways to bridge the abyss that separates boomers and millennials. The book provides practical guidelines for engaging young people and their parents, grandparents, mentors, and church leaders in effective intergenerational dialogue, a practice that will inspire societal and spiritual reconnects, fight indifference, create significance, stop the stigma—and spread hope.

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Ambra Watkins

Ambra is a boomer mom intrigued by the promising yet perplexing millennial twentysomethings and their successors, the Generation Z teens. In her latest book, Escape from Dark Places, Ambra shares her mother-and-son story of triumph over anxiety and depression. Like many mothers, Ambra fell victim to the idea that moms are part of the growing problem, not the solution, but she soon discovered "it does not have to be that way.” Her book empowers moms and others often sidelined from the recovery process to help young people manage their mental health disorders and thrive.

With an MA in English, a project management professional (PMP) certification, and fifteen years of experience building expertise in change management, communication, and training both in the US and abroad, Ambra embarked on her journey of discovery through writing...

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"A riveting, revealing, and relevant approach to unlocking the paradoxes of the millennial mindset. The book is an inspiring and insightful tool that compels you to seek and share better ways of living a healthier and more fulfilling life."

G. D. CANNON, Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws in International Law (LLM), and College Football All-American

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Tell Your Story

How did your family, mentor, or church leader help you triumph over anxiety and depression?

“At the onset of my journey, I was uninformed and ill-equipped to provide the support my son needed; I felt guilty. I found that mothers are often regarded as part of the anxiety problem and are seldom included as part of the solution. I felt marginalized. But I soon learned that it does not have to be that way.”

~ Escape from Dark Places

Speaker


With ten years of experience in training development and delivery and six in strategic change management both in the US and abroad, Ambra has the know-how and skills to engage and motivate audiences across generations.

Ambra speaks passionately on how to:

  • Communicate with other generations
  • Feel strong mentally, spiritually, and physically
  • Live abundantly in an era of stress and ambiguity

As a seasoned trainer well versed in multiple disciplines, Ambra is the right choice to engage intergenerational audiences behind the podium or in front of the classroom.

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Blog

  • Good News for Stigma Fighters

    Stigma is created by public opinion. If the public could have more empowering and empathetic views toward people who have a mental illness, it could lead to a paradigm shift that could help more people see diagnosis as a blueprint rather than a bombshell.  – Jen Reviews, “A Blueprint When Feeling Blue: How A Mental […]

  • How High On Life Principles Threaten Young Minds

    As an observer of cultural change and generational difference, I took notice when High On Life posted a video in which a group of millennials encourage the 575,000 subscribers to adopt their core principles. These principles are shockingly opposed to what psychological research and common sense dictate is healthy for young minds. The video is a […]

  • Don’t Sweep Anxiety Under the Rug

    Learn More: There are 600 outpatient mental health facilities available in the country. However, there are no facilities exclusively for children and adolescents.  – WHO, Viet Nam Office, Report Feelings of guilt, shame, and weakness inhibit the Vietnamese from admitting mental health problems and delay treatment. Individuals, for their part, avoid openness with personal difficulties, and […]

  • Suicide Prevention Strategies: There’s Always Hope & Help

    I’ve always compared suicide to being so unbearably ill that you can’t see the forest from the trees. To the person suffering, there are absolutely no other options. It’s a horrible feeling that  many people face day in and day out. I am fortunate that I have been able to learn how to manage my […]

  • Recovering Addicts Talk About Gaining Forgiveness

    By Guest Blogger Cecelia Johnson RecognitionWorks.org Photo Credit: Pixabay Addicts face a major obstacle on the road to recovery, and that’s gaining back trust and forgiveness from those they’ve hurt while under the influence. Depending on just what the addict has done, forgiveness can seem nearly impossible in some cases. I’ve spoken with a lot […]

  • Fighting Anxiety with the Support of a Mother’s Love

    By Guest Blogger Rosa Talavera  My teenage son was involved in a serious car accident Thanksgiving Day, 2015. His jeep fishtailed off the road, and he was ejected from the car suffering fractures on his neck, spine, and pelvic bones. After a week in the ICU, he required 24-hour care for approximately six weeks, followed by […]

  • High School Bullying & Suicide: How to Protect Your Child

    Parents! For more information about bullying, Ambra encourages you to read DrugRehab.com’s guide: Bullying & Substance Abuse: Who it Affects & Why. “Art installation on Mental Illness” the advertisement read. The event was to take place at my niece’s high school, so even though we didn’t know exactly what “installation” meant or who the artist […]

  • Why Millennials Don’t Jibe With Corporate America

    In my book Escape from Dark Places: Guideposts to Hope in an Age of Anxiety & Depression I write: “Millennials are different. If you are not convinced by now, go out there and see for yourself—watch them, talk to them, interact. They are different, right?” In the book, I anchor the problem of anxiety in […]

  • Help Your Children . . . Tell Your Story!

    My family has always been pretty close. Growing up we talked, we ate dinner together, and we supported each other. But like many boomers, I moved out of my parents’ home when I started college. Then I moved hundreds of miles away when I married and started a family. My family gets together with the […]

  • Got Anxiety? Maybe You are Vitamin or Mineral Deficient!

    This is the second post in The State of Anxiety series.  The first post, “Anxiety: No Clear Cause,” established that while what causes anxiety disorders is complex and multi-faceted, these disorders are certainly diagnosable and treatable. This post considers a simple diagnosis—a physical cause. Last summer I took some flyers with me to Pilates to share information […]