How Anya in K. O’Neill’s Graphic Novel The Moth Keeper Uses the DBT Observe Skill in a Scary Moment

Do you sometimes find your self challenged by your thoughts in tough situations? Anya's example could help you cope. The information in this blog post is not to be read as replacement for therapy. To get the benefit of therapy, you want to work with me or another therapist trained in the DBT protocol.

In Chapter 8 of O’Neill’s graphic novel, Anya is faced with a task that is a matter of life or death. She has to find the enchanted Moon-Moths, the special gift of the Moon Spirit to the Night-villagers. Scattered across the bottomless darkness of the cold desert, the Moths are at risk of dying. Without the Moths, the Night-villagers cannot survive. When Anya sets out into the shivering darkness of the desert to chase after the scattered Moths, a heavy thought weighs on her mind, “I let everyone down.”

Anya manages to collect the Moths by doing something very close to Observe, one of the grounding DBT skills. With each step, Anya tunes into her senses: smell, touch, sound, and sight. She focuses her attention on the “fragrance of the wind” and picks up on the scent of Moon-Moths. She pays attention to the air touching her face and feels the movement of moth wings. She listens closely to the tiniest sounds in the desert and watches the darkness carefully. The Observe skill helps Anya focus on her goal of “finding as many Moths as possible before dawn.” Staying in close touch with her senses doesn’t let Anya get distracted by the gloomy thought, “I let everyone down.” Her senses pull her away from the heavy feeling of failure and give her the strength to keep going. Thanks to the Observe skill, Anya succeeds.

Do you want to give the Observe skill a try? Next time you’re in a situation that feels overwhelming, focus on your senses. Pay close attention to what you see, smell, touch, and hear. When you do that, you’ll probably find yourself distracted by thoughts sometimes. Don’t be discouraged. This is perfectly normal. When a thought pops up in your mind like a corn kernel in a popcorn machine, ask yourself, “What do I smell? What do I feel on my skin? What do I see in front of me?” As long as you keep doing that, you are using the Observe skill.

The information in this blog post is not to be read as replacement for therapy. To get the benefit of therapy, you want to work with me or another therapist trained in the DBT protocol.