WELLNESS
16BB AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO MIAMI HERALD MONDAY , AUGUST 1 , 2016
WELLNESS
By Nzingah Oniwoson
@ YesBabyILikeItRaw
About 11 years ago I lost a family member to gun violence . To be more specific a police officer killed that family member . It was the age before hash tags and social media giants like Facebook and Twitter . However , it was such a high profile case that media outlets picked it up , the NAACP got involved , the mayor was at the funeral , protests took place , charges were filed and dropped , an officer was fired and a civil case was won . In 2015 my cousin would have been a hash tag , and because of the
Self Care Practice During Times of War
trauma of his murder I feel and hurt in a different way when a new name is added to our list of hash tags . I know intimately what those families are going through ; so more than being sympathetic I am empathetic to their loss . It is much harder to grieve when the media and community are scrutinizing your lost loved one and your family .
The truth is whether we want to admit or not we are at war . All wars are not overt like the crisis in the Middle East ; we have a war on violence , drugs , equal rights , health care and the list goes on . On a larger scale collectively as people of African decent , the tragedies we have been experiencing are one more chip off of our already bruised heart . Anxiety has become commonplace . We hope everyday that our loved ones come home safely . We hope when we hear about a crime that the criminal isn ' t black . We often question and check our behavior to make sure we are not the stereotypes perpetuated in media . We are one millimeter away from breakdown . With months like July , topped with everything else we are processing , it ’ s a miracle that we have some resemblance of sanity .
Our mental health is in crisis . Most of us
are depressed but because of stigmas we will not acknowledge it . Depression in its simplest terms is a response to loss . No one can exist on this planet and not experience loss because with life comes death . Clinical depression is where it gets in the way of your everyday life . How do we maneuver through these highs and lows ? Through intention , an intentional self-care practice to be exact . That is only way we can maintain our sanity . Social media definitely has its pros but the cons are sometimes evasive . We are being exposed to emotional and psychologically harmful content that only exacerbates the situation .
The following is a list of some self-care practices that help you maneuver through the feelings of hopelessness , sadness and anger .
" Anxiety has become commonplace . We hope everyday that our loved ones come home safely . We hope when we hear about a crime that the criminal isn ' t black . ... We are one millimeter away from breakdown ."
Self-Care Practices During Times of War
• Disconnect from social media
• Un-friend individuals with unhealthy posts
• Find ways to process stress ( cry , meditate , counseling , dance , write , exercise , scream in a room by yourself , yoga )
• Do something ( volunteer , mentor , join an organization )
• Talk to a friend
For more information follow Nzingah on instagram @ yesbabyilikeitraw and visit her website www . yesbabyilikeitraw . com .
Congratulations ! �
Florida Grand Opera salutes
Carlton Ford
for being selected as one of Legacy Miami magazine ’ s 40 under 40 Most Influential Black Leaders for 2016 .
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the South Florida arts community .
We are truly proud of you !
Florida Grand Opera ’ s mission is to shape the future of opera and to connect diverse audiences through its power and beauty .