Black People, You Need Therapy

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[00:00:09] Shannon: Hello.

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we're going to talk about why that is, and why black people may be the main ones who need it.

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And we're coming out of our shallow pockets. So if you love our show, please share it with somebody you think that would love it too. More downloads equals more opportunities to get some of those costs covered for us. Because the way my bank account is set up Like I just need y'all to help us spread the word about Blacktivities.

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[00:01:24] Shannon: Thanks for listening as usual now on with the show

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[00:01:30] Shannon: If you listen to the bonus episode where I was a guest on, it's about damn time.

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[00:01:41] Shannon: It's a podcast that is hosted by my buddy, Jarratt you heard me talk about my experience going through therapy and trying to work and create a better me. I feel like when we become adults. We have to like try and unlearn all the [00:02:00] bad stuff that we learned throughout our childhood that messed us up and Therapy has been a way for me personally to do that If I sound a little bit Different or I don't know how I sound right now, but I feel like I don't have as much energy

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mm

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[00:02:28] Lisa: hmm,

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[00:02:38] Lisa: right, right, and that's understandable,

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[00:02:43] Lisa: yes I have, I want to share all of this with you and my whole therapy session, but I think first let's give them some sex facts and then we can dive a little bit deeper.

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[00:03:00] So, let's start with some facts about black people and mental health. According to mental health America, black adults are more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness than white adults. A survey by S. A. M. H. S. A. reported. 4. 8Million black people reported having a mental illness.

se being a serious one, and a: 2018

So they don't feel like they can talk about it. Less than 2% of American Psychological Association [00:04:00] members are black. That means we don't have many professionals that are black to help us. Post traumatic slave syndrome. You haven't heard of that? It's a theory that says that there has been multi generational trauma for descendants of slaves as a result of centuries of slavery and oppression that our ancestors experienced.

nduring Injury and Healing in: 2005

That results in lack of self esteem, feelings of hopelessness, and [00:05:00] some other things, and it stems from unresolved PTSD that was passed down from inequality, racism, and oppression, added to the stress that we currently experience due to the prejudice that still exists. Some of the symptoms of this condition include extreme feelings of suspicion, hypervigilance, Perceived negative motivations of others. So, like, thinking everybody has a motive or is out to get you, violence against self, property, or people in your own community. Difficulty concentrating, feeling jumpy or being easily angered. Appearing emotionally numb and higher rates of anxiety and fragmented identity.

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[00:05:48] Shannon: If it is true, It might explain the high suicide rate of Black men, our mistrust of just about everybody, including each other, which would explain why we [00:06:00] can't seem to get it together as a community like other cultures do. It would explain a part of why we have so many health issues in our community, why we might perpetuate some of the stereotypes like we talked about in last week's episode, and why there's so much generational trauma in our families.

You be the judge. And that's SAC's Facts.

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but. I have to admit that I think, I mean, I am victim to that,

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[00:07:21] Lisa: I think so. I think so. Cause, I mean, if, if it never happened, then we wouldn't be walking around on edge like this, right?

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[00:07:38] Lisa: Right.

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[00:07:52] Lisa: But, but, I want to say though, we're not just walking around just questioning people like, ha, ha, ha, ha, you know, just accusing. [00:08:00] There are things that happened on swoop. Go date it back in history, okay? There are things that goes on to this day that are racially,influenced, okay? That have us on our toes and thinking that way because we don't want to be treated differently. So of course we're going to be on a, you know, look sideways, always on guard. That's how I say, always on guard, because if there is something that is continuously happening and there is no sense of it letting up anytime soon, then of course that we're going to look at it. I mean, that's, that's normal. Somebody do something to you. You ain't going to keep letting them come around and do something to you. Not unless you the crazy girl got, you know, a crazy baby daddy that's toxic.

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[00:08:48] Lisa: But that's a different story, but if somebody, you know, especially if you know somebody they give off their racist vibes, you're going to side eye if they

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[00:08:59] Lisa: Yeah, yeah. [00:09:00] Like you're going to side eye, you're going to keep them at a distance. conversation will be short. Okay. And that's all right. We don't have to, just like, you know, any other person, they don't have to entertain someone. We don't, we not, we just gonna, I'm here to do what I need to do and I'm gonna get on about my business because If you don't give good vibes, I'm pretty sure I've been somewhere and I didn't give good vibes to somebody but I'm not gonna get mad Cuz that's just the vibes that they picked up at the time.

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[00:09:28] Lisa: but I believe it. I do believe that that is a real thing

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[00:09:36] Lisa: Mmhmm

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So I can understand why there would be higher rates of anxiety, right? or depression.

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[00:10:20] Shannon: Yes.

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[00:10:45] Shannon: You feel like you're dying? Yeah. I've had a couple myself.

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[00:11:02] Shannon: Mm-hmm.

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They're like, oh, you don't need all of that. I didn't use that But grandmama you sitting here with no leg Now we done had about a couple uncles, okay That used to come by the house, naw I was just playing. My granny wasn't like that.

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[00:11:44] Lisa: Yes. I mean, you have some healing. You'll hear the traumatic stories of when your mama talk about how she was molested, and she wanted to make sure that it didn't happen with you. And then your grandmama, if you just look at the list where your great grandmama [00:12:00] had a whole bunch of children, possibly, you look at your great uncle and aunties, they had different daddies, you know, and I think about that.

Like, I really do. I think about that. Like coming from that, how does that break down to our generation and how we feel and the that's given to us?

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[00:12:33] Lisa: Right.

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So it's [00:13:00] natural that it just comes through generation and through generation. And so even if it's not in the forefront, I feel like. You know, we are still dealing with the trauma from our ancestors because it was unresolved

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[00:13:16] Shannon: So now I feel like we have to be the ones to resolve it now that we do have some resources available so that we don't continue passing down all that stuff to our kids

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exposing you to it that way you can see the signs and avoid it. But unfortunately, that doesn't happen in every situation. But back to what I was saying is I go, and I think in my mindset, okay, well, I'm keeping my kids from a struggle, but then you'll have family members come and say, you're spoiling them.

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[00:14:27] Lisa: Well, what do you mean? I'm spoiling them. Like I don't want them. If I'm able to take them to school in the morning, then I'm going to do that because I'm going to use that time to talk to them in the morning. Oh, and another thing, something that I've noticed, after I was going to therapy is when you get up in the morning in this house, no one's screaming and yelling.

ng, wake up, I'm rubbing her [: 00:15:00

[00:15:10] Shannon: Yeah.

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Your mama come in and bust through the door, turn light on, get up! We got to go. And you like, Oh my God. And that kind of like, does something to you.

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[00:15:42] Lisa: I, I'm a believer in how you get up in the morning and get dressed. it alters your day. It sets, you know, the tone for your day. So especially my oldest one before she had left and went to college.

. So she would turn on Frank [: 00:16:00

To the songs and I'm sitting here like okay, and I like that it set the tone for that day I enjoyed taking them all to school Cuz you know, I don't know it just To me that felt like it was it was something different because we had time to talk in the mornings We had time to remind each other of schedules and it was great So with me having that way to where okay My children have been fed.

I know that they got to school safely. I did that. It set my tone for the day. When I went to work, I wasn't angry.

I was calm. it even controlled how I was pleasant to customers when they come in. You know what I mean?

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[00:16:57] Lisa: hmm. Mm hmm. And I have to [00:17:00] say I'm very thankful that with, you know, getting, seeing the therapist.

is, is, it, it helps, it helps, because sometimes you be trying to talk about things. And yeah, you have friends and people around, but they don't know exactly, like you're saying it, but they don't know that the things that you're saying is something that's really bothering you. So it'll go over their head and you feel like nobody's listening.

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[00:17:26] Lisa: Right, right. I know, I like that you shared in SAC's Facts about the percentages and them not being enough like African American therapists. I have to say, like now I was looking for somewhere because I'm pretty sure I said, I got my second daughter who's transitioning to college. So I'm about to have two in college. On top of you guys donating to Blacktivities if you want to donate to the college fund and my mental health. [00:18:00] but I lost my train of thought because that's right. It's expensive.

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[00:18:06] Lisa: I did. I just lost my train of thought. Let's just scratch it. It'll come back. I just thought about college girls. It's been rough getting her ready. They just got a house. I just had to buy her a car. Okay, I'll let you take over cause it's just, Oh, I'm having an anxiety attack right now.

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[00:18:30] Lisa: like I stated before, They don't believe something is wrong mentally. So what they do is they keep working and they keep going. Thinking that they can cover it up. and then on top of that, they may not realize or take seriously the resources that is now available.

medic or joking and laughing [: 00:19:00

We poke fun at everything, everything, nobody's safe, okay? But looking at it though, I have to say sometimes, some of that stuff,we might need to chill out just a little bit. But I feel like. With the way things are going in the generational type things like comedy was the way to hide and protect our mental health

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[00:19:40] Lisa: yeah exactly a coping mechanism comedy I mean to this day, you know, I kind of do that to my own self

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[00:19:50] Lisa: Yeah Yeah, but

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[00:20:05] Lisa: Mmhmm

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[00:20:15] Lisa: Yeah.

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[00:20:18] Lisa: Oh, you know, I just realized I was going to say, okay, one, the lack of resources, but to piggyback off what you just said, you don't trust the person. So, also, by there not being enough African American therapists or someone to talk to, Because I'm gonna be honest with you. I have been trying.

'm looking for someone in my [: 00:21:00

[00:21:12] Shannon: Right, because they understand your plight, they understand as a black person what you're going through on top of the extra stuff.

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[00:21:32] Shannon: Yes, that is an issue.

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It's going to be hard having two in college and they growing up on me. It's hard.

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She's like I told you about it So she's going on a date tomorrow. Well today today. Sorry So she's going on a date and they're going to the picnic. Okay, he's going on a picnic. So i'm like, okay She's like, well, I remember I told you what was doing and he's gonna come by here I want you to meet him blah blah blah blah and i'm like, all right.

All right. All right But, I'm sitting here like, my kids are growing up. My middle daughter is transitioning from, I don't know if y'all remember Daria from MTV.

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[00:22:39] Lisa: Yes! If you know my middle daughter, that's how she, her tone, the way she talks. Like, I got her a car, and at first she's just like, oh yes, this is so awesome.

You know what I mean?

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[00:22:56] Lisa: Like, when she gets excited...

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[00:23:01] Lisa: Shannon, I can see that. You know what? Now that I think, I can see that in you too. I can see that in you too. But she's transitioning from that Daria, don't care, very little emotion to, I seen her go out of the way for something that's about to happen. Like she's stepping into the dating world.

She bout to leave college and I'm sitting here like, bruh, I need somebody to talk to. This ain't working out for me.

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[00:23:31] Lisa: Of course, of course, you know, but I got to make sure I'm good too. If my mental health ain't good, how I'm going to be there for them, right, right. So I've been on this journey trying to see if I can find someone like I might have to pay out of pocket to get that ideal person, you know, and I have found several that is really good, great reviews, but y'all have ideas, hit me up, inbox us.

that struggle because when I [: 00:24:00

Mm

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[00:24:12] Lisa: Mm hmm.

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[00:24:16] Lisa: Was she in there like, Tell me, tell me about Shannon.

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[00:24:23] Lisa: Yeah.

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[00:24:28] Lisa: no idea, ma'am. That's why I'm here.

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[00:24:31] Lisa: . Yeah.

Yeah.

Let's talk about your childhood. And you're in there telling her, she's like, That is great. Now what you need to do is, and you like, wait, we didn't even get, you already trying to, you know,

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[00:25:00] Lisa: is it wrong that, okay, if I'm sitting here, I'm finna ask, if I want somebody, a therapist, is it possible to get one to tell you, you know what? They just look at you after they ask, who is Talisa? And I tell them and we get to talk about childhood stuff and how I feel and relationships and then at the end of the session, they say, okay, well, I want to sum this up and just say that you're full of shit. You need to take responsibility in your actions. Okay. Now, this is your assignment. You know what I mean? That's how I

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[00:25:39] Lisa: It is.

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[00:25:48] Lisa: Right, right.

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[00:25:52] Lisa: to me, I feel like that's successful, like I leave after being told, you know, I'm full of shit and, you [00:26:00] know, I'll potentially have narcissist ways. I'll be walking out like, you know, like, yeah, I'm finna go get me some Starbucks. Like,

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[00:26:09] Lisa: we accomplished something.

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[00:26:15] Lisa: Just be real with me, man, just be real, A hundred percent. Your baby daddy get on your nerves. Yes. It's okay that you ignore him. That's fine. That's totally fine, Lisa. Now, what do you want to do today? And I just, you know, I just want to take a nap. And they be like, well, go home and you take a damn nap. Okay.

Like that's how I want my sessions to go. Oh, and another thing too. Y'all take advantage of your days off, especially you got PTO. It's okay to use, utilize your days off for mental health days.

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Yeah. [00:27:00] Question for you, though.

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[00:27:02] Shannon: Do you think white people in this country experience a generational trauma as well? Like maybe, let's call it post traumatic enslaver syndrome?

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[00:27:36] Shannon: say yes to that because There's no way, if you think about the violence and just the crazy, ridiculous lynchings, killings, torturing, beatings, like, how can one witness that, experience that, and not [00:28:00] have some kind of trauma? for them to be so desensitized to that.

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[00:28:07] Shannon: They would actually, like, go to public lynchings like it was, you know, Friday night football.

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[00:28:18] Shannon: And I feel like I would attribute the way that some white people behave toward us As post traumatic enslaver syndrome, because I feel like it's ingrained in them, even though, you know, they're not overtly racist, they, I would not label a lot of white people

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[00:28:47] Shannon: Right. It's, it's in them somewhere.

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[00:28:52] Shannon: You know.

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We're not, we should not make excuses because y'all are not going to make excuses for us if we do something out of the, norm. So, just want to put that out there.

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[00:29:49] Lisa: is it wrongif you are among people who feel like, black people should just let it go. [00:30:00] But is it wrong if, let's say, and I'm not gonna say I've done this, but we make a joke about it, knowing that it potentially made them feel uncomfortable. Like it just comes out, you know, and I'm gonna let me give you an example because you're looking at me Let me give you an example Let me give you an example.

So if we sittin' there and something pops up and then I'll say Well, shoot. I wouldn't be able to sit here if it was so so so so many years ago and then everybody's like And then the white person's like oh my gosh, they're right like Segregation, you know, is that wrong for me to do that?

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[00:30:40] Lisa: Okay

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[00:30:47] Lisa: Mm hmm,

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[00:31:00] Lisa: hmm.

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But like, that's the norm for us. And so no I think, you know, to deal with that whole situation with our past, people are going to have to be uncomfortable. It just is what it is. Like, it's not a comfortable topic. It's not.

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[00:31:37] Guest 1: Alright, So if you could, just introduce yourself, please. Hi, my name is Keisha. Okay, Keisha, so I'm going to ask you, do you feel like all black people should go to therapy? Yes. You think so? I do. Why? Why do you think so? Because we need it. Have you

m speaking that I need to go [: 00:32:00

[00:32:02] Guest 2: My name is Raphael Martaen. Reppin' out here in Northwest Georgia, by way of Florida, by way of New York, by way of Dominican Republic. My business. Oh, Lock Guys, man. If you ever need any security for your doors, your business, your home, you need remotes for your, for your vehicle. You need cameras for you, for your assets.

You need burglar alarms. You need safes. We do it all. We certified and licensed. So

do you feel like all people of color should go to therapy? Well, I don't know. All people of color should go, but definitely if you're struggling with some mental health, you know what I'm saying? If you just feel like things a little bit harder for yourself, definitely need that help. You know, I talk from experience.

ll of that. I thought it was [: 00:33:00

And I did. But there came a time where I couldn't, I couldn't figure it out no more and I, and I went and got help, you know, and it's, it's the best thing I did for my family and myself, you know? Yeah. For sure.

Thank you! Alright! High five on that one! Boom! Alright, thank you

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yeah.

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[00:33:32] Shannon: a lot of other people feel like we do.

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[00:33:53] Shannon: Yeah, because they are putting a lot more mental health resources into the insurance package.

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[00:34:07] Shannon: Whatever resources are out there. Yeah.

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[00:34:28] Shannon: it can be uncomfortable just because it's uncomfortable to come face to face with who you really are.

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[00:34:38] Shannon: Yeah. Some people aren't ready to face the facts about who they are. Yeah.

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[00:34:44] Shannon: But I think It's beneficial because you're going to feel so much better when you get to the other side of that.

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[00:34:59] Shannon: with [00:35:00] this Blacktivity. Yep. All right, I got some questions for you.

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[00:35:07] Shannon: a true or false.

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[00:35:10] Shannon: Answer true or false.

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[00:35:16] Shannon: You might not.

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[00:35:20] Shannon: Okay. Number one, the impact depression and anxiety has on the global economy can be measured in 1 billion in lost productivity each year. Is that true or false? Mm hmm.

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[00:35:56] Shannon: And you would be right. It's actually [00:36:00] one trillion.

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[00:36:02] Shannon: Yeah,

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[00:36:04] Shannon: U. S.

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[00:36:07] Shannon: U.S. We work ourselves to death

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[00:36:10] Shannon: All right number two more females receive mental health services than men and This comes from a 2020 statistic

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[00:36:22] Shannon: It is true

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[00:36:23] Shannon: and It would be 51. 2 percent versus thirty seven point four percent So that kind of tells us that men are more afraid to go to therapy than women. Or at least that's how I interpret it. number three, more people have been diagnosed with depression than anxiety in the U. S.

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[00:36:49] Shannon: That's actually false. Yeah, anxiety is a bigger issue. it would be, 42. 5 million adults [00:37:00] with anxiety versus 21 million with depression.

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[00:37:04] Shannon: Yep, we're all stressed out.

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[00:37:07] Shannon: All right, number four, 25 percent of U. S. adults with a diagnosable condition reported in 2023 that they could not afford to access the treatment they needed.

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[00:37:22] Shannon: So, This is actually false and it's in the percentage,

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[00:37:28] Shannon: it's in the percentage,

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[00:37:30] Shannon: so it's not 25%, it's actually 42% that say they can't afford the treatment they need. So that's a huge issue. Our last one is there's a shortage of mental health professionals.

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[00:37:48] Shannon: Most definitely true. a recent report cited only one provider was available for every 350 individuals in need of services. So it's [00:38:00] not just a lack of black mental health professionals. It's mental health professionals overall,there's too much demand and not enough supply. So I guess if you're thinking of a career,

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[00:38:15] Shannon: that would be a good one.

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[00:38:33] Shannon: Yeah, that would be rough, especially if like, you know, you're a very empathetic person and you kind of take on other people's pain.

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[00:38:41] Shannon: all right. Well, let's hear what you got for our piece today, Lisa.

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Operating on fumes, but yet a smile on my face. The world stomping on me. Kicking. Kicking. Employer plausibly pouring salt in my eyes. Dark figures with no faces standing, watching with their hand out, waiting for their turn. The feeling taking over. I can't breathe. My eyes closed as you feel every, every single blow.

stand there halfway through [: 00:40:00

Thank you. Alright.

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[00:40:20] Lisa: Uh huh. Uh huh. It's rough. Well, guys, it's very important that we do take care of ourselves. If mentally we're not there, then the ones that count on us, it just won't work. So it's very important that you take into consideration of the strong person that you are. And then if you need the additional resources, don't be ashamed.

could be the answer to your [: 00:41:00

[00:41:02] Shannon: I think it takes a lot of strength to take that step if you need it.

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[00:41:08] Shannon: Well, next week should be a very interesting conversation as well about cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation.

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[00:41:24] Shannon: Where is that line? That's what we're going to be discussing. Like, where does it cross over into appropriation? And we'll have a special guest next week who might have more knowledge than the 2 of us on this topic, because, she, talks about diversity and inclusion every day. That's her job. So, Looking forward to that. While you're waiting on that episode to drop, hit us up on IG or Facebook. IG has been poppin in the past couple of days.

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It was like, all she had to do, it was like the bat signal. She just had to send me that emoji with the sunglasses on. I just looked at her. I was just like, I looked down at my phone and said, that baby working. Cause like what you gain, like what, 200 people followers in a day.

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[00:42:36] Lisa: yeah. And then on top of that, they are like, the conversation has been popping, like popping. So go in and see what these folks talking about some of some of the comments, you ain't gonna like going there and tell them about they self. Be that person that say, you know what? You are full of shit. Just it's okay.

I want to see it. Do it so I [: 00:43:00

[00:43:03] Shannon: Yeah, so we are @Blacktivitiespod. Make sure that you spell Blacktivities right. But if you are hesitant about that, it will all be in the show notes. And until next week,

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