#RallyUp2SaveLives
Mental Health
Magazine
Warrior Zone ViiI:
Cymone Jones
YOU ARE
Love and Mental Health
MORE THAN
QUARANTINED
By: Nina Hollingsworth
ENOUGH
HELP ME I'M By: TJ Woodard
Features:
STEPHANIE CARNEGIE
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Founder & CEO of Totality Of A Woman
MARISA JONES
Founder of My Every Day Being
ERIC D. CAPEHART, SR., MBA,MA Founder & CEO of All the King's Men, Inc
Kena'i
IS ESSENTIAL
By: Amanda Fludd, LCSW-R
UNAPOLOGETICALLY STANDING IN HER TRUTH Our Fashion Director opens up about her suicide attempts, healing journey and fight to find her true purpose.
Special Feature: VERONICA
PRYOR-FACIANE
A Survivor of Sexual Abuse by her father, Suicide Attempt, other related mental health illnesses and most recently COVID-19 Spring 2020
Photo by CashCaptures
SPRING 2020
OUR FIGHT Mental Health Still Matters
Shedding Light on the Darkness When Two or More Are Gathered in His Name
Praying for Our Nation
RALLYUP & See What's INSIDE 06 Founder’s Letter 07 Meet the Contributers 09 Behind the Scenes 10 Fashion Section What's Beautiful to You? 14 Poetry Corner Torre White Kena'i 16 Mental Health Confession: "Black Girl Struggling" | By: Jada Carrington 17 YOUTH ZONE Poetry Corner| Lorelai Symmes RUM Mental Health Comics | Illustrated By: RJ Sterling Scripted By: Nina Hollingsworth What Matters to Me | By: Jada Sherffield You're Not Alone! | By: Jada Sherffield You Are More Than Enough | By: Nina Hollingsworth The Change of a Generation | By: Jaaziah Thompson Who I Am | By: Madison Radike YOUTH ZONE FASHIONS 27 Cover Story Kena'i |Suicide Survivor & Mental Health Warrior 30 Faith and Mental Health God's Promises In Tribulation| By: Andrae Hayden 32 Therapy Is Dope Emotional Health is Essential| By: Amanda Fludd, LCSW-R 33 DEAR AMANDA Therapist Highlight: Eric D. Capehart, MBA, MA Do Your Little Bit of Good Where You Are Interviewed By: Amanda Fludd, LCSW-R 34 WARRIOR ZONE VIII Cymone Jones
27 36 My Story By: Kendra Hathaway 37 BEAUTY 5 Fav Organic Beauty Treatments Found in Your Kitchen | By: Nekesa Smith 40 Special Feature Veronica Pryor-Faciane, MS 43 The Gifts of Darkness By: Lex Morgan 44 Love & Mental Health Help Me I'm Quarantined Tips for Coping While Staying at Home By: TJ Woodard 46 Making A Difference Stephanie Carnegie Marisa Jones 48 Health & Wellness LET US HIIT OUR MENTAL RESET By: Tyanna Straughn Sweet Mental Release By: Talona Smith 50 RESOURCES
MENTAL HEALTH CONFESSION
"Black Girl Struggling" By Jada Carrington
hen I first started struggling with my mental health, I felt so out of place and different. One of the reasons I felt that way is because I didn't see anybody that looked like me struggling like this, and so I thought there must be something wrong with me. It seemed like none of the other black girls I knew were feeling depressed, having suicidal thoughts or cutting themselves, which made me want to hide my struggles even more, because I didn't want to be judged or criticized. I didn't want to be "that weird girl", and I didn't want to be called "crazy" or "psycho". I just didn't want to be different in that way. I know that sounds a bit extreme, but when you grow up in a community that never talks about their struggles, and constantly associates mental health problems only with white people, then you begin to internalize your feelings and respond the same way. For example, I didn't tell many people at the time that I was cutting myself, but the friend I did tell said "Girl, that's what them white kids do." And in that moment, I was discouraged from opening up to anyone else. Seeking help wasn't even an option, seeing as though I couldn't even talk about it. It wasn't until I left high school and became an advocate that other girls and women who looked like me started sharing their stories and admitting to their struggles. Suddenly, I didn't feel alone anymore. I talked to many other black women who could relate deeply to my story. There was a girl that was younger than me and an older woman in her 70's who both could relate. That let me know that mental health problems do not discriminate, and that anyone can go through some of the same things I had experienced. That's one of the reasons I advocate, in hopes that someone else who looks like me, will not be ashamed of their struggles, and will want to reach out for help. As black women face a lot of hardships, and don't always get the opportunity to express ourselves because we are often looked at as the
strong ones who has to hold everything together. We don't talk about mental health in the black community, due to years of stigma and even desensitization, but we should. It is crucial to the wellbeing of not only our mental health, but the mental health of future generations to come. We owe it to our ancestors who struggled and had to take it to their graves. So, this is for all the black girls like me, who never felt like their pain was valid......you are important, your feelings matter, and you are worth it. You are so much more than the depression, the anxiety, the self-harm, the suicidal thoughts, the mental illness, the trauma and all of the pain. You deserve healing, you deserve happiness, and most importantly, you deserve to live. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise!
WHY DON'T MEN TALK TO THEIR DOCTORS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH? • • • • • • •
Ive learned to deal with it I have no one to talk to I don't want to appear weak I don't want to be a burden on anyone I'm too embarrased I don't want to admit I need help There's a negative stigma
Please make sure you check on the men in your life. #menmentalhealthmatters
www.wefightfoundation.org
OUR VOICES MATTER Platform for 18 and under
A POP OF NEON RALLYUP FAVORITE LOOKS Striped Soft Knit Romper $7.19 Knotted bow strap sandals $11.67 Solid double zip Fannypack $ 5.39 Circle Pendant necklace with three hair clips $3.37
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TICKLED PINK RALLYUP FAVORITE LOOKS Striped Tube Jumpsuit $11.67 Studded Triple Band Slide Sandals $11.69 Rhinestone Heart Necklace with 6 Bow Stud Earrings Sold out Cool Faux Leather Clutch Sold out WAX Frayed Hem Denim Jacket $17.99
Found at: rainbowshops.com
Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love. ~Brene Brown
Be GR8 Today All Day Everyday! Make Your Purchase at www.gr8clothingline.com Use Code RALLYUP & 15% will be donated to We Fight Foundation Inc. to help them FIGHT for Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention.
: @gr8clothingline : GR8 Clothing Line : 2022772934
#allmentalhealthmatters
Nekesa J. Smith CEO/ Founder Nekesa Natural Radiance Hair Loft www.nekesanrhairloft.com salon 404-835-2117 wig units and national updos to serenity twists and box braids. All styles are weeks by using appropriate products, such as NNR's Scalp Refresher or any of our other moisture-based products.
ARE YOU DEPRESSED??? Changes in sleeping pattern Lack of energy Dark Mood Changes in appetite Heavy "dark" Mood Guilt and/or Anxiety Hard to Focus
The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been stressful for many people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be very overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. If you are feeling over-whelmed and need someone to chat to, you can start by texting TALK to 741741.
Q & A with
KENA'I
Suicide Survivor & Mental Health Warrior ver since I was a little girl, I was always different. At the age of 14, I was officially diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Being officially diagnosed finally gave me a little information on what was happening in my head. Not everyone in my family was accepting of my illness and some even believed “it was an excuse for crazy people to “act crazy” or for me, "a teenager to be rebellious." My mom became my strength, but my father became my trigger and for many years my siblings were afraid of me. While trying to come to terms with my illness, I began to gain weight from the different medications that I was taking which caused me to become the target of bullying my 7th grade year in school. I lost friends, my grades dropped, and I began to lose my will to live. Not only did I feel alone at school, but I felt like a stranger in my own home. After one very dark night, I had enough. Two weeks after my 13th birthday was the first of six attempts on my life. I went through three different facilities, engaged in self-harm, substance abuse, endured being raped, insecurities, spiritual emptiness, physical, mental and emotional abuse. After years of searching for strength, I finally found it within myself. I finally realized I am NOT my illness! It does NOT and will NOT define me! I am NOT crazy or hopeless! I am chosen! I found confidence in my beauty and I am ready to share my story… It was a pleasure interviewing our Fashion Director; the daughter of our founder. We are blessed to be apart of her healing journey.
Photo by Cash Captures
Fight Every Battle on Your Knees Spring 2020| rallyupmagazine.com | 27
EMOTIONAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL AMANDA FLUDD, LCSW-R
If you’ve been following RallyUp you know that mental health applies to everyone and it’s all about our overall health and well-being. As society has been catapulted into the pandemic of Covid-19, we want you to remember your emotional health is still essential and more than ever want to encourage you to find balance in the chaos and nurture yourself, especially if you are coping with mental illness like depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia. We can’t control how we feel, but can control how we respond to our feelings. You see, feeling your feelings isn’t the same as reacting to it. Right now we are dying of boredom, afraid to get to close to others, irritated with loved ones, stressed about work and finances, beyond the blues, or just numb because we are tired of feeling and it’s the best way to get through the day. Since we have to “shelter in place”, we just aren’t as busy and distracted as normal and that leaves us vulnerable to uncomfortable emotions, but you are not alone, the entire world shares your experience and the good news is, you can feel it, and not respond to it. What do I do to deal with it? Just like on the plane, the oxygen mask needs to go on your first. If you are taking care of your emotional health, it makes it easier for you to then care for other’s. Here are a few suggestions: Nurture yourself first: What’s been working for you? Maybe it’s taking some time alone, going for walks, playing or even learning an instrument, listening to the remix battle on IG or just talking with friends or a colleague. Take a break: Taking in too much news and social media only heightens the anxiety. Set a cap for the day. Question yourself to find the greater good and spark hope: Ask yourself: What am I grateful for today? What do I miss and what do I appreciate about that? Or How am I using my gifts and giving to the world today.
32 | rallyupmagazine.com | Spring 2020
Take care of your body: The body and the mind are so deeply connected. Get active and you let go of stress (which contributes to weight gain and medical issues) and it helps to improve your mood and wellbeing. Eat healthy, and maintain your sleep routine. Poor sleep is the first sign of mental trouble. How else are you creatively coping? Get on IG @Rallyup and let us know! Do a little every day to thrive through this season and if it is more than you can handle, remember it’s ok to not be ok during this time of crisis. Therapy is always an option and just about all therapists and even psychiatrists are offering online therapy and most insurances are even waiving copays. My practice, Kensho Psychotherapy Service, for example is 100% online and we’ve expanded to see clients in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. To get to us visit www.amandafludd.com or to find a therapist near you: www.therapyforblackgirls.com, www.psychologytoday.com or www.openpathcollective.org. For 24/7 support: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 We expect this will be a difficult time for many people, but if you focus on your mental health now, it will be a lot easier when we emerge again as a community. #Inthistogether #RallyUp #Therapyisdope Sending positive and healing vibes, Amanda Fludd, LCSW-R Executive Director at Kensho Psychotherapy Services / @therapyisdope Additional Resources to Support Your Emotional Health: The YMCA is offering many free online classes at https://ymca360.org/ Check out Pop Sugar Fitness videos on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/popsugartvfit/videos Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout Apps completely free until May 1st. Take a free course at Yale on Happiness: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being? Curious Tribes is facilitating free support groups and ways to connect with others: https://www.joincurio.com/ A Free Wellness Summit via Zoom with a therapist previously highlighted Ms. Katiuscia Gray and Amanda Fludd through April, 2020. Eventbrite: And phenomenal live talks on issues that matter to our community on Facebook @Therapyisdope (the one that says Amanda Fludd). Mindful.org has Free Mindfulness Resources to Find Calm and Nourish Resilience During the COVID Outbreak
THERAPIST HIGHLIGHT MEET ERIC D. CAPEHART, MBA, MA DO YOUR LITTLE BIT OF GOOD WHERE YOU ARE BY AMANDA FLUDD, LCSW-R
s the journey to therapy is often a personal one influenced by the projectiles, potholes and mountains surpassed in life, so is the journey to becoming an exceptional counselor or therapist. Typically, most of us are deeply touched by mental illness within our families or larger communities and are compelled to have a hand in shifting mindsets and reducing disproportionate barriers to mental health. Eric D. Capehart also known as Eric the Counselor, shares his little bit of good and what influenced his journey. “I spent 10 years as the founder and CEO of All the King’s Men, Inc. in Nashville, TN. The mission of our nonprofit was to reduce the likelihood that black boys would encounter juvenile court. After a decade of doing the work of mentorship I saw firsthand how mental illness affected my members [and] their families. I realized most mental health issues I was confronted with as a mentor went undiagnosed and it seems like it had all been normalized”. Minority communities have made progress towards embracing the importance of mental health, but there is still some resistance. What is the experience they have with you once they walk in the door?
client find surprising is that I was expelled from High School for a year for dealing drugs”. We are currently experiencing unprecedented times with this recent pandemic that has consumed us. What is your concern for our people and some advice? If I am worried about anything, I am worried that our people will not only take the brunt of the sickness and death, but we will also suffer economically at disproportionate rates as compared to our white counterparts. Otherwise, I am not genuinely worried about anything as it relates to our people when it comes to the current COVID-19 pandemic. We are a resilient people who have always made a way even in our darkest hours. I am optimistic that our people will continue to break away from previous generations thinking about seeking professional help when it comes to psychological matters”. “My hope is that our people will come out of this better than how we came into it”.
“One of the biggest fears is a belief that they won’t find a therapist they feel comfortable with. In my opinion the stigmas on mental illness and the medical field in general are still a fear and even a stronghold for the black community at large. When clients work with me, they experience a calm and relatable counselor whose cultural competence shows up in therapy. I know what works for us when it comes to therapy”.
What was the last book you read and a key point you took away?
“I’ll be honest though, many of my clients acknowledge a sense of relief when we first meet. They are relieved to see a young black man with locs”.
You never know the beginning of a man until you ask. Mr. Capehart saw the beginnings and challenges of our black boys and rose to the occasion to be a voice and advocate for exceptional Mental Health. Eric D. Capehart, MBA, MA is a Pre-Licensed Professional under supervision of an LPC in the state of Tennessee. He has a T-shirt line “Experience Mental Health” and an associated Podcast-Experience Mental Health the Podcast. To request an appointment or for additional information visit:
Can you share something clients are surprised to know about you? “One of the first things clients are surprised to know about me is my age. Along with running my private practice, I serve as the Assistant Director of Counseling at an HBCU in Nashville. Anytime my age comes up the students are surprised to know that I am old enough to be their parent and sometimes I am older than their parents. Another thing my
“The last book I read was The Way of the Superior Man, but I don’t want to share the points I took away. When I shared them with my wife, she had a blank look on her face as if she could have gone without that information. If there are any men that have read it, they’ll probably understand”.
www.ericthecounselor.com.
What's the difference between PTSD and depression?
DEAR AMANDA
Renee S. Washington DC Renee S. from Washington, D.C. thank you for wondering out loud about the difference between PTSD and Depression. PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and while it shares some similarities to depression (a close cousin), like irritability, sadness, loss of interest in activities you enjoy, it definitely has its own unique characteristics. A key element of PTSD is the experience of a life threatening event or experiencing a profound loss of control (such as the tragedies of war, sexual assault, emotional manipulation), either personally or even second hand (like the loss of Kobe Bryant or professionals who hear repeat accounts of trauma). Although the traumatic event is over, the symptoms, particularly reexperiencing (feeling like if it’s happening again), intrusion (thoughts or memories that come flooding back), negative thoughts and mood (negative beliefs about yourself, others or the world; feeling no emotions, or very emotional) and arousal (feeling on high alert or on edge, constantly looking over your shoulder; doing self-destructive things to cope) continue to occur. This can happen right away, or months, sometimes years after. Trauma is no respecter of time, race, age, it will show up when it wants and how it wants, especially if it is left unattended. This can certainly contribute to symptoms of depression, and you can have both PTSD and Depression at the same time, but because of the nature of what kicked off the symptoms, and the way a person experiences it, the primary focus becomes PTSD. Usually when you treat the trauma depression improves.
Photo by Stanley Morales from Pexels
Everything you need to know about
Mental Health
DEPRESSION • A sadness you can't shake • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed • Weight loss or weight gain • Sleep difficulties • Fatigue or restlessness • Feeling worthless and/or guilty • Difficulties concentrating • Thoughts of dying or suicide
PTSD • Unwanted memories / Flashbacks • Avoidance of trauma people, places, or conversations related to the traumatic event • Feeling alone or confused • Negative thoughts and emotions • Irritable / Angry • Hypervigilance • Startle easily
Thank you for your courage with this question. You’ve helped so many people and I wish you the best on your journey to great mental health. Amanda Fludd, LCSW-R www.amandafludd.com RallyUp Magazine
Nikita Powell-Cottman Anxiety & Seasonal Depression
Vanity Dawson Bipolar Disorder & Depression
Tai Campbell Depression & Anxiety
Kenai Hollingsworth Suicide Survivor, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, PTSD, depression
Neta Vaught Suicide Survivor, Depression, Anixety, PTSD
Lorelai Symmes Anorexia, depression, anxiety, PTSD
Mental Health Warrior Zone viii Fighting Back Against the the Battlefields of Our Mind Real People, Real Stories...Overcomers! Read previous warriors stories in the Warrior Zone at:
Cymone Jones Suicide Survivor, Bipolar Disorder & Depression
Dasia Wood Suicide Survivor, Anxiety, Bipolar, PTSD & Depression
Kayla Sampson Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Bipolar
www.rallyupmagazine.com Tamika Woodard Anxiety & Depression
Lawrence Durden Depression
Jada Carrington Anxiety & Depression
Tanzania Fair Depression & Suicidal Ideation
Craig Cooper Depression & Suicidal Ideation
Tyshia Douglas Depression
Elyse Lancaster Suicide Survivor
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
Cymone Jones Founder of Of A Sound Mind My name is Cymone. I am a young woman personally affected by mental illness I turned my experience into an opportunity to advocate for other survivors with a diagnosis, or survivors overcoming different traumas that might typically be ignored. During puberty I struggled with depression heavily. My first suicide attempt was probably around middle school. I was raised in church and I begged God to take me in my sleep. I dealt with self-harm and body dysmorphia, that went hand and hand with my depression. I wanted so badly for someone to care. Instead my acting out got me sent away to live with a family member over 1500 miles away. My parents didn’t know what to do for me. From that point my struggle with rejection became worse. My “new family” did not always accept me. I went from home to home being the black sheep in each one. Back home I dealt with an emotionally abusive father. At my new home I dealt with an emotionally distant one. My upbringing was not typical or healthy. It was tumultuous and toxic. I became independent, growing up very quickly. Soon that led to heavy drinking and the behaviors that comes with the party lifestyle. I went from place to place until a relationship gone bad led me to homelessness. There were a few of us who squeezed in one tiny apartment with no lights, heat, or food. Eventually, I was able to get back on my feet. I was able to get a place with the assistance of a friend and landed a decent job. Shortly after, I lost my job and my heart was completely shattered. I felt like a complete failure with no hope in sight. My life took a turn for the very worst. By the time I turned 20, I decided I had enough. Late one night I
consumed all the Tylenol I could find in the house. I ended up in the hospital on complete lockdown. After that I was sent off to the behavioral health center where they gave me a laundry list of diagnosis and medication. When I was admitted, the first thing my “visitor” asked me was, “Do you know you go to hell if you kill yourself?” When I was released the first thing I was told was, “You don’t need medication. You need support. We’re going to get you off that medication.” These were stigmas from a black family and the Christian community that hit me immediately leaving a lasting effect. I was overwhelmed by everything that was going on and confused by what to believe. Throughout the next few years, I continued to move around. Still, my family didn’t know what to do with me or what was best for me. I was a fully-grown adult still being tossed between households and states. Eventually, I was back in my home state. The last place I wanted to be, yet home is where I started treatment and was consistent on my path to stability and recovery. Years would go by before I started being open about my struggles with mental health and at times it was evident even when trying to hide it. I was a private person with many labels placed on me already. Inspired by the singer/songwriter Demi Lovato and her transparency about her struggles with drug abuse I came out to a social media audience. I opened about my own personal struggles surrounding my diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder. I was frustrated by how she was treated and shamed by the (social) media, but I was now less ashamed of my own battles. I was embraced with so much support. This made me want to be a part of stopping the stigma. Many people began telling me that they had endured similar circumstances but never felt comfortable sharing. I strive to normalize these conversations because of this, especially in urban and Christian communities. My organization, “Of A Sound Mind” is a faith-based organization but is open to all. We host panel discussions, support groups, and other events to continue to get the word out on the importance of mental health. Our goal is to give support to those who struggle with their mental health, and we also strive to educate communities that might need guidance on how to be of support. Since becoming comfortable enough to speak on my own story my goal is to continue to help stop the stigma on mental illness and raise awareness. I want to be a voice to those who continue to suffer in silence. I refuse to let my pain go without purpose. I have committed to using each part of my testimony to help the next. : @of_asoundmind
Spring 2020| rallyupmagazine.com | 35
YOU
ARE
ENOUGH. 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9
#faithandmentalhealth www.wefightfoundation.org