Silent Symptoms: Black Mental Health Podcast

Gaslighting: A form of psychological manipulation psychological manipulation
This is stemmed from a movie called "Gaslight" that came in 1994. It is a psychological thriller about a woman that was psychosocially manipulated by her husband. In this episode, I discuss what gaslighting is, how to recognize overcome, and heal from it. It is commonly done by people that have narcassistic personality disorder or anti-social personality disorder. Have you experienced gaslighting?

On this episode we discuss ending toxic relationships that cause anxiety. This topic was suggested by one of my listeners. This specifically talks about how to end relationships that cause anxiety and how to move forward. It is easy to get caught into a matrix of toxic behavior and left feeling anxious, if you have experienced this, you need to listen to this. We have to normalize the fact that we have all been toxic relationship and friendship that we should have left in the dust. I provide suggestions on how to move forward in your unique situation.

On this episode I discuss black men therapy. I share the importance of why black men need to engage in therapy in order to improve themselves and their family dynamics. There is a long history of black men having the perception of not feeling anything and it has created a toxic cycle that needs to end soon.

On this episode, I discuss the impact of microaggressions in the workplace and the real world. I give examples of some of the microaggressions that I have experienced and some that have been normalized. There are 4 options on how to address microaggressions: Discern, Disarm, Defy, and Decide. I explain how each of these can be used when someone displays microaggressive behavior.

On this episode @moneybossmama and I discuss finances. She shares how to start your financial journey from a small income to achieve your financial goals. There is no one way to get to your debt free journey but it all starts with mindset. We talk about the effects of finances on mental health and how to move past that create that narrative you're look for!

In this episode Khia and I discuss mindful parenting. This is an important topic because often times, children feel forgotten or unheard by their parents. We discuss the importance of parenting, trauma, and forming a positive relationship with your children.

On this episode, I have a special guest who happens to be my husband @noallimit. We wanted to share the importance of having your own relationship goals and setting your own rules for your relationship. We chat about when we met and how our relationship evolved. We kept it really light hearted while sharing the importance of communication and learning your partner. Make sure you like, share, and subscribe.

In this episode, I give an update about what's been going on in my life and what to expect during this season. I briefly speak about the effects of the global pandemic and how to cope with the uncertainties of the world.

On this episode, Tracie Pinock, LMFT, shared how to heal from a heartbreak effectively. She also shared her story on she overcame a difficult break up. We had great dialogue that I know will be helpful for both men and women struggling about the next steps after a heartbreak. Tune in to hear amazing content.
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On this episode I discuss what social anxiety is and the signs and symptoms. This was inspired by the doubt of #SummerWalker having social anxiety. Sometimes people on social media forget that they are not mental health professionals and they can't tell someone what social anxiety should look like.
Social anxiety manifests itself in variety of settings and doesn't look the same for everyone. Tune in to get more information about social anxiety.

On this episode, I discuss my goals and how I achieved them. The story begins when I moved to the US and I share my valleys and peaks of how I got to where I am right now. I also discuss how to effectively set your goals and how to achieve them in your own timeline. Success is whatever you say it is! Take a listen.

On this episode I discuss the criteria of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and how to properly dealwith it. There are different types of anxiety that people experience and GAD is the most common one. It is a severe, ongoing anxiety that interferes with daily activities that can occur at any age. GAD manifests itself in different ways. There may be times when your worries don't completely consume you, but you still feel anxious even when there's no apparent reason. Listen to the podcast to get an understanding on how you might have GAD.

In this episode, I discuss how to beat holiday depression and anxiety. Holidays for most people are associated with family fun, celebrations, and happiness. While others are lonely, grieving, depressed, or full of anxiety. This is the best time to set intentions for the holiday season. You may have lost a loved one, be estranged from family, or are anxious about the financial responsibilities that come with the holiday season. I discuss how to get through this difficult time. Take a listen!

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is defined as comprising a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. This is the definition used by the DSM 5. Individuals commonly mislabel others as narcissists. In this episode I explain the criteria of NPD and how to deal with some that has been diagnosed. This was a request by a listener.

Silent Symptoms Podcast is back like never before. In this podcast, I discuss why I took a hiatus from the podcast. As I stated before, breaks are necessary for critical reflection. Have you ever felt like you needed a break from something you loved? Part of my hiatus was to build my private practice so it can coincide with the podcast. Silent Symptoms is my baby, I didn't want to spread myself thin through life changes so I needed a break to create room for other areas of growth. I break down what I was doing during my break and what I learned throughout the process.⁠

#SilentSymptomsPodcast #BlackMentalHealth #SocialMediaCleanse

On this episode, I was inspired by my recent trip to the Dominican Republic and the media coverage. At the beginning of the year, the American media went public about American people dying allegedly because of the alcohol but there was never a formal investigation done. When I decided to go the DR, people were outraged and concerned about me potentially going into a death trap. I was not worried because I had done my research about the DR and the tourism. Do you know that the DR has one of the lowest death rates in tourism? The point I willing be making is that, of times, we let the news and social media affect us mentally before doing any research. We repost articles without verification and we internalize unnecessary fear. I dive into why we shouldn't let the media dictate how we live. Take a listen!

On this episode, I talk about the misconceptions of black people and therapy. This episode was a heart to heart to the black community about therapy. I discuss how resilient we are as a community which can cause failure to thrive because we feel as though we have it all figured out. We go to the doctor when we are physically sick, why can't we got to a therapist when we're mental and spiritually in demise? This platform was created to make us aware that therapy does not mean failure.

On this episode, I discuss how to resolve childhood trauma effectively. Although there are complex issues that are involved in how trauma is inflicted, it begins with a choice. Sometimes the hardest part is making the conscious choice to heal. In order for the healing to take place, one must acknowledge that there are issues that stem from childhood. Take a listen!

On this episode I have Keshia Reaves. She a Licensed Practical Counselor and she specializes in Maternal Mental Health. We talked about maternal health in the black community and what that looks like. Black women are four times likely to experience pregnancy related death than white women. This may be alarming for some but this is a reality that black women and that's why we also discussed the importance of self advocacy. The conversation had a lot of variations like post partum depression and her brand, Push Thru for the mama. @pushthrubox.

In this episode I discuss the importance of sisterhood. Sisterhood is extremely important because we all need someone to lean on whether it's family or friends. We need to encourage one another and hold each other accountable in every aspect. We are conditioned to compete with each other but we have to know that there's room for ALL of us, we can all win. It takes a village and that village is a sisterhood. Take a listen to hear the in depth analysis of being sisters!

On this episode, I discuss colorism again because of a YouTube clip that went viral on Facebook. A popular YouTube couple shared the birth of their daughter but the main focus was how "dark she is going to be" and the disappointment of not having "pretty eyes" by mother and father. Often times, parents project colorism on their children which sets the standard of how their children will perceive themselves as adults. Although the couple reports they aren't colorist, evidence says otherwise. "If a child is born with dark skin and learns that dark skin is not valued by her peers, community, or society, she may develop feelings of shame. This is especially true if the child is unaware of colorism’s historical roots and lacks friends and family members who shun skin color bias. Without an understanding of racism and classism, it’s difficult for a child to understand that no one’s skin color is innately good or bad." Nittle, Nadra Kareem. (2019, March 3). Why the Effects of Colorism Are So Damaging.

On this episode, I discuss the adverse effects mother's day can have when on some families. Mother's day has been idolized in our society and has failed to acknowledge the mother's and daughters that hurt. This is usually a joyous time for some families that want to celebrate mothers and mother figures to show their appreciation. I discuss reasons why Mother's day may be difficult and how to provide support to those who hurt.

On this episode I discuss the importance of allowing children to have a voice. Children are often told to be seen and not heard and their voices are invalidated. They are only allowed to speak when we give them the platform and that can potentially diminish their ability to communicate effectively. Children have to feel empowered in order for them to learn how to properly communicate and self advocate. Teaching children to have informed opinions can be helpful in their self actualization and need to allow children the freedom to express their personal perspective. Children need to learn how to share an opinion not only with what they say but how they say it. This all begins in the home.

On this episode I discuss the effects of social media on mental health. The number of social media platforms used and how often they are used is related to mental health. A recent study found that the more social media platforms an individual uses, the more likely they are to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, regardless of overall time spent on social media. Social media does have benefits, enabling people to enhance their communication skills and social connections. Social media sites and apps allow individuals to make new friends, exchange ideas and pictures, develop new interests, or build business brands. Limitations on how to use social media and the amount of time spent may reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and self esteem.

In the episode I discuss the community violence in the black community and the affects it has on our mental health. I elaborated the effect that Nipsey Hussle's death had on the black community and why it cut so deep. This man was influential and a gem. Ermias Joseph Asghedom, known professionally as Nipsey Hussle, was an African American rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, and community activist from Los Angeles, California. A man that embodied what the black community should be by investing in real estate, focusing on ownership, how to circulate the black dollar, bringing awareness to the culture, and giving back to our communities. What an honor to exist in his time and grateful to him for showing that the outer body doesn't always represent the inner. We have to value those who bring VALUE to our lives. There is room for all of us, we should not allow jealousy and envy to cloud our judgment which leads to violence. Let's keep his legacy moving by sharing our knowledge with others and support one another.

This episode highlights knowing your worth and not settling for less in relationships and friendships. The primary focus is to us to take care of ourselves first then give ourselves to others. If our cup is empty, we can't give anything to others and it's vital that we're full. I also talk about letting go of toxic relationships and mastering loving ourselves.

On this episode, Tameika Cheek, and I highlight what it means to be a millennial therapist and the importance of self care. We go as far as sharing self care tips for therapists and clients so we can live a fulfilling life so we can prevent burnouts. We live in a millennial time and we are sharing what it looks like to go against the grain and being innovative in our respective fields.

In this episode I discuss what colorism is and how it has affected the black community. Research has linked colorism to dark skinned individuals receiving longer prison terms, reduced job prospects, negative perceptions of their attitude, signficantly less incomes, and lower marriage rates. This has a significant impact on mental health and learning how to embrace the skin we're in (from light skinned to dark skinned) can help combat that.

This episode highlights the allegations about Jussie Smollett experiencing a hate crime. I share my point of view about how we're quick to save people without evidence and cancel them when we don't have evidence either. Social media has such a large influence on individuals and we lack the ability to do our own research before forming an opinion. I express the lack of empathy we have for individuals who may be going through emotional turmoil, we just look at things at face value. I discuss how the Chicago PD has not released tangible evidence to the public but we've already called Jussie Smollett a liar based on hearsay. Research and reading are fundamental so we can make well informed opinions.

In this episode, I discuss self care techniques and ways to combat high functioning depression while building the courage to see a professional. Seeing a professional is always number 1 but often times courage needs to be built in order to see a professional, self care and emotional regulation is needed in between sessions, and knowing that others have these feelings is comforting. In the DSM, it is called Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia). This type of depression can be difficult to detect in oneself and even more difficult in others. In most cases, individuals are struggling internally but appear to be "fine" to the outside world.

This highlights the signs and symptoms of high functioning depression and the importance of seeking help from a professional.

This episode highlights mental health from an interesting perspective. We discuss children and adults being affected by mental health, signs of mental health, and the myth that if you see a professional that you don't have faith.

This episode features Babalwa aka Mbokodo Mantras to discuss healing through words, growing up in South Africa and stigmas of Mental Health, surviving being perpetrated against, and the need for change in the black community when it comes to sexual abuse.

In this video you will hear birds chirping since we are in our element and natural environment. South Africa is gorgeous and I wanted you all to see it 💕

#SurvivingRKelly

This episode has been inspired by #
McKenzie Adams. If you haven't tuned in, Google her name to get up to speed. On this episode, it highlights bullying, looking for signs of distress, and tolerance. Little brown girls have been dying by suicide at an exponential rate and it has gone unmentioned. This year alone, there have been over 4 stories that have made national headlines of them hanging themselves. Imagine those stories that haven't been brought to light. Watch and listen to gain awareness.

This episode highlights
Homophobia and Transphobia in the black community. We speak about the allegations against Dwight Howard and how he was treated. We don't know of these allegations are true or false, at this time. We used his situation as an example of how we have low tolerance for homosexuality.

Introduction about why the podcast was started and why black mental health deserves recognition.