By understanding the foundations of our society, we understand that this trauma has shifted DNA, familial patterns, mental health, societal roles, and daily experiences. Understanding the history and the foundations of our society is necessary to understand the complex ways in which these formative actions impact mental health. The dance of injustice has been a long narrative in this country and has shaped the mental health of a people.
Read MoreWhat originally began as a brief visit quickly became a sister circle where vulnerability and support converged to create a healing experience none of us knew we needed. We spent the next several hours, yes hours, discussing relationships (familial and romantic), trauma, forgiveness, self-worth, and other topics important to women.
Read MoreI recently revealed on my popular Instagram reel show: Search for Serotonin that I went on a date. People in my DMs congratulated me and said they were proud of me for taking this step. I thought it was funny all the fuss people made, but I had been very vocal about not trusting anyone ever again and remaining single to protect myself. And now here I am, allowing a man to give me butterflies.
Read MoreWhen most people think of a person with Autism, they think of a white male. My second child is an African American female. This is our story. From the moment my husband and I brought her home from the hospital, she was extremely sensitive to light and sound.
Read MorePTSD nightmares are a reality for many survivors of trauma, whether you experienced trauma yourself or witnessed a traumatic incident. Every day millions of people are impacted by PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can affect anyone who has experienced physical or psychological trauma.
Read MoreAs a full-time student and international student dealing with depression and anxiety daily, it is a struggle, primarily when you continually deal with hardships: homesickness, social difference, and all-around stress. Sometimes there are difficulties within people. Students who have experienced anxiousness or depressed feelings should know that they are not alone. It merely is not uncommon to feel this way—in particular, being involved in the university community.
Read MoreMore than ever, individuals are beginning to reclaim their power and understand the importance of personal wellness and caring for one’s mental health. This is especially important for Black women, as we are often expected to go above and beyond in the workplace. We are seen as most useful because of our labor, and our humanity is rarely taken into account.
Read MoreWriting any self-help book is an ambitious feat, but what Julie Lythcott-Haims has delivered in “Your Turn to be an Adult” takes a huge bite out of a broad and existential topic, “what does it mean to be an adult?” I’m 29 and every day, I observe my friends who are all around the same age, wrestle with the tough breaks of adulthood or enjoy its glorious moments, whether it’s getting married and having a baby or buying your first home.
Read MoreDepression takes time to heal and the journey is not linear, it’s full of peaks and valleys that can threaten the stability of your life, your work, and your relationships. As someone who lives with depression, I have to continually monitor my mind and body as well as shift my perspective on what’s “normal” to what’s healthy for me as an individual. Over the years, I’ve noticed a few telltale warning signs that my depression may not be in check.
Read MoreTo me, “sensitive” means that I feel deeply, that I’m observant, and that I have a keen sense of the emotional and mental states of others, detecting dishonesty, bad vibes, or genuine love and compassion, naturally and with ease. I never really thought much about how being a Highly Sensitive Person might be affecting me or my mental health, but one day, a friend asked if it had ever occurred to me that I might be an empath.
Read MoreIt’s spoken of in hushed tones at family gatherings or mentioned with concerned looks as “that” family member enters the room. No one wants to call it what it is. I don’t even want to, until now.
Read MoreWhen someone dies by suicide, everyone wonders “Why? How did it come to this?” and I understand that. It’s hard to conceive of a pain so great that it makes you not want to live anymore, but whether you’ve ever been there or not, it’s important to know that this place exists. It’s real and to judge a person who has been there as “weak” or “selfish” just shows that the level of judgment and hate that sent the person to that dark place to begin with is real and extremely problematic.
Read MoreWhen becoming a mother, you have to essentially transform, evolve, and become a different person. That's not to say that who you are completely goes away, but evolution and transformation has to happen in some ways.
Read MoreIn moments like this, I never want us to lose sight of the things that still matter. The world would lead us to believe that our lives don’t matter, but they still do. We absolutely must continue to pursue our goals, dreams, and passions.
Read MoreLike you, the last four months of my life have been completely turned upside down. I was used to waking up in the morning, my husband and I getting our infant ready for daycare, and then all of us quickly leaving the house. After a long day, we would return home, perform our evening routines and then spend some time together before we do it all over again the next day. Those days were long but it was our routine and I was used to the rapid pace of our life.
March was when everything started to look different.
Read MoreThe mental health crisis that was happening in this country even before COVID19 is worsening significantly now. With so many people stricken with grief, losing their jobs, and uncertain about how they will provide for themselves and their families in the future, we must be more vigilant than ever when it comes to caring for our mental health.
Read MoreThere’s nothing like mandatory quarantine to get you to pick up a book again. Our community of writers and creatives are reading through this pandemic as an act of self-care.
Read MoreI was always sort of hiding how everyone in my family didn’t get along. How every gathering turned into an argument until we stopped gathering altogether. How jealousy and resentment ran rampant amongst the different age groups. It wasn’t until I was thirteen and in high school that I realized more families had similar issues to mine than I thought.
Read MoreThen one spring day, I decided to take control of my feelings. I scheduled my first therapy appointment and from there, the healing began. My therapist, a black woman, helped me to understand my feelings and gave me the tools to control my reactions.
Read MoreSummer Walker is living her dream and her nightmare all at once. Social anxiety is only a part of who we are as individuals. It’s possible to be a famous singer and also be completely terrified by crowds and strangers. We should allow Summer Walker, a young black woman, the space to be multilayered and complicated.
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