Things are not normal

I had drafted and crafted a lot of content for this month around gender and mental health — the original theme I wanted to explore. But given the state of the world and the issues that are triggering and/or re-triggering so many of us in diasporic communities, I couldn’t keep on as if things were normal.

Things aren’t normal. I have been struggling, and I am sure you are also struggling.

I feel hyper-aware of what is happening in the world — in Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Armenia and so on. As a mental health practitioner who comes from a lineage of folks who have been colonized and displaced, my bones feel prickly. I know that’s a strange sentiment, but I have this constant rumbling in my core of what has been, what is, and what may be. I am privileged and scared and devastated. I refuse to turn away and I recognize how I must honor my own capacity for sustainable activism.

I understand that turning away can be a protective mechanism and as a therapist, I often advise my clients to consider the thing they don’t want to do, in order to get to the place they want to get to. Sometimes this may mean turning toward pain and suffering to activate community care and positive actions toward change.

As Mariame Kaba said, “Let this radicalize you, rather than lead you into despair.

The roles we play

In times of crises we can all engage in different — yet valuable — roles, and for me I have been spending the past month focusing on offline advocacy for my community as well as my therapy clients, most of whom are personally affected by various humanitarian crises and systemic oppression. I loved the breakdown of these roles we can play for collective liberation by Slow Factory (check it out on IG).

As I continue to engage in the role I am called to as a healer, among other various actions I am taking, I want to maximize how I am offering my time and services in this space this month.

What to expect this month

Things may look different this month. Paid subscribers will still see the Thursday threads and the end-of-the-month recommendations email, and we will still have our second paid subscriber only conversation club on November 29 at 7-8pm ET (link to come).

However, we are going to forego the monthly theme and book giveaway and instead I will be sharing at least one more post on tactical tips for community care and advocacy this month and I want to donate my time for three additional peer support groups that will be open to all Brown Girl Therapy and Culturally Enough. subscribers.

TWO peer support groups to hold space for immigrants and children of immigrants (and anyone from diasporic communities) who are struggling to navigate the current global and humanitarian crises and need a space to process, share, grieve, and be in community.

November 9 at 12pm-1pm ET (register here)

November 30 at 7pm-8pm ET (register here)

ONE peer support group to hold space for therapists and healers who identify as immigrants and children of immigrants (and anyone from diasporic communities) who are struggling to navigate the current global and humanitarian crises and need a space to process, share, grieve, and be in community.

November 16 at 7-8pm ET (register here)

Coming up

I will be sharing more this month on navigating the sense of guilt you may feel during times of crisis, and also help you explore who you are in times of crisis.

Thank you for reading, and  I will continue to show up in the ways I have, and make the effort to show up in the ways I am still needing to.