Obsidian Counseling and Wellness Center, LLC

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Today is the last day of Mental Awareness Month. With the end of this month, I’d like to leave you with some contact information in case you or someone you love is struggling with their mental health. If you have any questions, feel free to message us.

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Music has been known to elicit strong emotional responses or invoke memories. Science has now found some evidence to support this. A study by Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital confirmed that listening to music releases dopamine.

Be present with those who are present with you.

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Another common issue that I’ve found a lot of clients deal with is that of an emotionally unavailable parent. When our parents or caregivers are inconsistent, rejecting, or unavailable, we may develop feelings of mistrust towards ourselves or others. Failure to develop a secure and trusting bond can lead to the belief that the world is unsafe and unpredictable. This can also lead to a pattern of unstable adult relationships.

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Burnout is a mental, physical, and emotional state of exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Want to avoid burnout? Try implementing different types of self-care such as prioritizing your health, enagaging in fun/relaxing activities, and setting clear boundaries.

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Vitamin D deficiency is more common in African Americans than other races. This is because of higher levels of melanin in their skin that blocks UVB sole radiation. Signs of a Vitamin D deficiency can resemble a mood or anxiety disorder. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, consult your physician and request updated labs. It’s best to rule out any possible medical causes/underlying issues in addition to talk therapy.

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🗓️ Day 14
Opposite Action is a DBT skill in which you fully commit to acting opposite of the emotion urge that you’re currently feeling. It’s to DBT what Behavioral Activation is to CBT.

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Anxiety is most commonplace known feelings of fear or nervousness. However, there are also other signs that you may be experiencing it.

🗓️ MH Awareness Day 10

One of the top issues that often come up in my sessions with clients is poor boundaries. Children with poor boundaries (also known as enmeshment) in their families turn into adults that have…
- Low self-esteem
- Poor communication skills
- Problems regulating their emotions
- A tendency to avoid conflicts
- Problems saying no
- Difficulty developing and maintaining healthy relationships
- Codependency issues (People Pleaser)
- Identity issues/Poor sense of self
- Academic/Occupational difficulties
- Problems making decisions

🗓️ Day 9

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that develops after directly experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It can also develop after learning of a trauma that occurred to someone close to you. For African Americans, PTSD can also develop from repeated exposure to shared cultural experiences such as racial injustices, discrimination, and police brutality.

This is one of the best explanations I’ve read in this conversation on self-diagnosing Autism. Self-diagnosing is only the starting point; not the final destination. Further evaluation from a skilled professional is necessary to assess what the average person cannot comprehend despite their research.

Is a Formal Diagnosis Necessary? Photo Credit: https://www.myautism.org/news-features/stigma-black-individuals-on-the-spectrum-face

🗓️ Day 8
Aside from often being stigmatized in the African American community, there are many barriers that often prevent them from addressing their mental health. Some historical and cultural factors that limit mental health treatment for many African American include:
- Mistrust of medical systems (Keep in mind, the Tuskegee Syphillis Experiment from 1932-1972 was not that long ago!)
- Eurocentric treatments (Early psychotherapy theories were predominantly created by white men)
- Problems finding providers that look like them or have a shared ethnicity/culture
- A lack of culturally competent/sensitive providers
- Insurance issues/Lack of mental health benefits
- Stigma/Avoidance/Denial of mental health issues
- Unequal access to mental health treatment
- Reliance of familial, community, or faith based supports vs psychiatric

🗓️ Mental Health Awareness Month Day 7

🗓️ Mental Health Awareness Month Day 3

Let’s raise awareness and break the stigma together!

Today, I had the privilege of speaking at the American Counseling Association (ACA) in New Orleans. The room was packed with counselors eager to learn about ACEs and perfectionism in our work with African American clients. The feedback from everyone was amazing and was so much better than lil’ ol’ me could’ve ever imagined! I wish I could’ve gotten pictures/videos to share. Just know a time was had!

Today, we stand together in solidarity for Self-Injury Awareness Day.

Let's break the silence and stigma surrounding self-harm, offering compassion and understanding to those who are struggling. Remember, you are not alone, and there is hope and support available.

Together, we can promote mental health awareness and cultivate a community of empathy and acceptance.

Happy New Year from Obsidian Counseling! Today is the first page of the Book of 2024. It’s never too late to start your wellness journey. Let’s do it together!

Merry Christmas from Obsidian Counseling! I hope that everyone has a safe and restful holiday with your loved ones!

Starting September 2023, Obsidian will now be offering a weekly DBT Skills Group. If interested, please refer to the contact information on the flyer.

Welcome to 2023! Wishing everyone that sees this post a healthy and prosperous new year!

The holiday season can be a difficult time for many. Here is a gentle reminder to set boundaries, take breaks, and put your mental health first.

"Just Keep Swimming: Holiday Edition"
Helping you navigate through grief and loss during the holiday season

Date: Sat, Nov 19 • 9:30 AM EST

Register here 👇🏼
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/just-keep-swimming-holiday-edition-tickets-445485728807?aff=ea

Human connection & healthy relationships are a core pillar of well-being.

But sometimes social anxiety & a global pandemic can make it difficult to connect with others offline.

Therapy can help.

Still looking for a therapist?

Check out some of the ones listed on melaninandmentalhealth.com.

Get the support you need today.