May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mommies cannot pour from an empty cup. Let’s walk through how we can fill ourselves back up!

Therapy for Black Girls: Protecting our Mental Health

  • Work
  • Household chores
  • Spousal attention
  • Kids
  • News
  • Social Media

The list goes on and on. The mental load of being a Black woman is long. Sis is exhausted, Sis needs a break.

How though?

Breaking The Stigma About Therapy

Growing up, many of us were told “we don’t air our laundry out.” Loosely stated, what happens at home stays at home. Through each generation, there are instances of abuse, neglect, heart ache and various other forms of trauma. How do we break the cycles? How do we bring about solutions? Can we create generational joy instead of pain?

Therapy isn’t just for white people. Most importantly, it doesn’t go against our religion either.

Therapy provides necessary tools to navigate through life. In addition, in times of triumph, it helps us celebrate our wins without feeling guilt.

The American Psychological Association recently wrote a blog entitled “Effective Therapy with Black Women.” There, they describe in detail how black women often “shoulder other peoples’ burdens” without it being reciprocal.

We are NOT a MONOLITH

Strong. Responsible. Caregiver. Problem Solver. Poised. Brave. All words often used to describe Black women. Never considered soft, we are often the “fixers.” Yet, we need fixing too. Deserving of love and compassion, earned without trials and tribulation.

Where do I start?

When considering therapy, it can seem challenging to navigate. You may be questioning on how and where to begin.

Therapy For Black Girls, created by “Dr. Joy,” as she is affectionately known, is an excellent resource. There is a directory that houses multiple therapists across the nation. Moreover, the platform also provides a podcast that highlights multiple topics affecting Black women.

Affirm Her

“Words of Affirmation” are high on the Love Languages checklist. Often times as mommies, we often lack hearing the words “thank you” and “you are appreciated.” Many of our daily tasks are expected which can lead to Mommi guilt if we don’t balance it all.

Practicing daily affirmations and positive self-talk is shown to improve ones’ mental health.

  • I am worthy of love.
  • I deserve to be protected and considered.
  • Joy is mine.
  • My body is beautiful. I will treat it with the care it deserves.

Mommination has a resident “Queen of Affirmations”, Ms. Destiny Aja, who provides us with so many affirmations and prayers. Destiny created the “Mommi 2.0” challenge back in 2020. The thirty-one-day challenge, utilizes prayer, affirmations and daily check-ins to help you maintain your peace, no matter what is happening in your life.

Soul-Care & Self-Care

Along with adding therapy, you can improve your mental health by adding other components.

  • exercise
  • yoga and meditation
  • improving diet
  • take a nap sis (assign dad or a neighbor to watch those kids and lay it down)
  • retail therapy
  • read a book or listen to a podcast
  • dance like no one’s watching

We got you!

Mommination was created to support Black women as they navigate through motherhood. As our logo says, ” we believe it takes a village to raise a child and a NATION to support a mom.”

Sanya and Mykal created this safe space full of resources for any stage of your journey. Not only is the blog a valuable resource; there are also monthly meetups, challenges, recipes and more.

Starting in June, the Mommi 2.0 challenge will be relaunching FREE to everyone. Please stay tuned for more information.

Build your village. Go to therapy. Take care of yourself.

You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Sending you love and light.

Mommination