6 HEALTHY WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE INJUSTICES HAPPENING DAILY AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE
6 HEALTHY WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE INJUSTICES HAPPENING DAILY AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE
Mental Health
2020 has been an intense year to say the least! Although racism and injustices against black people have been a thing for centuries now, it took its toll this year. If you mix COVID-19 keeping us confined most of the year and killing off tens of thousands, sports and entertainment being cancelled, a peak in recordings of Karens and Kevins being bigoted racists, and countless news of black men and women being wrongfully murdered by cops or civilians, it’s more than understandable why we’re so fed up.
With less distractions in sight, we were forced this year to watch and feel what’s been happening. We’ve been questioning the systems in place and the collective consciousness has risen up in a way that we’re rallying more people than ever to the cause. However, the downside to this is that all of it is exhausting as hell! We’re tired of explaining things to people. We’re tired of our lived experiences not being validated. We’re tired of arguing with people about our right to exist. We’re tired of seing our brothers and sisters die for no other reason than racism!
“Black lives matter.
Black mental health has to matter too.”
Which is why it’s crucial to listen to our body when it’s telling us that we’re taking in too much and that we’re about to hit a brick wall. That constant exposure to these types of news and events can actually cause depression, anxiety, trauma and trigger us. Not taking care of these natural reactions can be very detrimental to our physical, emotional and mental healths. Some end up distancing themselves from everything, others need to do something to not feel powerless. All are valid, as long as it really makes you feel better. So here are 6 ways to help yourself deal with all the turmoil caused by the daily injustices against black people:
1. Take a break from social media: disconnect, go outside, in nature, connect to the earth instead, clear your mind and body from all these news in your feed, see friends, indulge in a (new) hobby, do a sport.
2. Practice self care: journal your thoughts and feelings, do yoga, meditate, paint, see a therapist, take a bubble bath, burn some sage, pray, follow accounts rooted in positivism and good news, take time away from work if you need to (and if you can afford it), keep away from and try not to waste your time and energy on people who are not allies, rest, nap, cry (a lot) if you need to, it’s good to let it all out.
3. Get informed: do your research, know your rights (knowledge is power), read books about race, activism and history, learn about what’s happening in your own city.
4. Take action: protest, donate, vote (city, state/province, country), write or call your deputies to demand justice, sign petitions, step up in the face of injustice (if you’re able to).
5. Spread the word: save and share links to resources, raise awareness on what’s been happening, speak up in the face of injustice.
6. Spend (more) time with loved ones: hug them, kiss them, exchange on how you’ve been feeling about the recent events, tell them you love them as much as you can, for tomorrow is not promised.
As I’m always looking to learn something new about the world and its people, I've also been on a journey to discover the world within my own self. Which is why I love sharing and exchanging opinions and knowledge with people. In a way, communication has always been part of my pursuit, whether it was by getting my bachelor's degree in Communications, hosting a radio show in Australia even though I barely spoke English back then, or even by recently getting a certification in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). I feel like I have so much to share with the world. And so much more to learn.
