The Power Of Us: Mental Health Matters
- Mar 25
- 19 min read
Updated: Apr 7
Healing, Thriving, Rising Together
Issue # 2
Mental Health • Sisterhood • Softness • Real Talk
Theme: You Don’t Have to Be Strong All the Time
In This Issue
Sis, I’m Trying Not to Lose My Keys...Again
Sisterhood & Support Systems
Mental Health Wellness: Managing Anxiety &
Mental Health Medication
Softness, Joy & Self-Care
Girl, I need my coffee!
Career Queens
Sister Check-in
Scripture of the Month
The Final Word
Sisters, Welcome to this month’s issue of The Power of Us, where we lay down the pressure, pick up softness, and remind each other that strong doesn’t mean silent. This month, we’re laughing, crying, unlearning, and softening—all at the same time. Whether you’re showing up bold or barely hanging on, you’re in the right place. We see you. We are you.
Let’s breathe and begin.
-Sharon
Scripture Of The Month
“In the multitudes of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19-NKJV
Strong Black Woman? Sis, I’m Just Trying Not to Lose My Keys...Again
Let’s start with the truth: I’m tired. Not “I could use a nap” tired. I mean “I’m mentally balancing five to-do lists, emotionally drained, and lowkey wondering if I brushed my teeth this morning” tired. And yet—folks still look at me and say, “You’re so strong.” Sis...do they mean physically? Because emotionally, I’ve had three breakdowns, cried in the car, gave myself a pep talk in the mirror, and still showed up to that Zoom meeting like I had it all together. Let’s talk about this so-called “Strong Black Woman” title. The cape. The crown. The expectation.
It sounds like a compliment. But most days, it feels like a silent contract. One where we’re expected to hold everyone else down—even while we’re slowly slipping.
The Myth We Didn't Ask For
Somewhere along the way, “strong” became our default setting. We were praised for enduring. Applauded for never complaining. Respected for powering through pain. But no one stopped to ask: At what cost? Strength became our armor and our burden. We put our grief on mute. Hid our anxiety in group texts with laughing emojis. Dressed up our depression in cute outfits. So we could continue to be “the strong one.” But what if strong isn’t what we need to be right now? What if soft is sacred? What if rest is revolutionary?
Sis, I’m Just Trying Not to Lose My Keys
That’s not a metaphor. I legit misplaced my keys three times this week. And you know why? Because my brain is overwhelmed trying to:
Remember everyone’s birthdays,
Keep the house somewhat clean,
Show up at work without snapping,
Drink enough water,
Text everyone back,
And pretend like I’m not falling apart inside.
So no—I’m not trying to be strong right now. I’m trying to be sane. I’m trying to breathe. I’m trying to find where I left my peace... and maybe my lip gloss.
Redefining Strength on Our Own Terms
Here’s what strength looks like these days:
Crying when I need to. Ugly, snot-nosed, “turn this song off before I completely spiral” crying.
Canceling plans without guilt. Because rest is a valid reason.
Saying no without explaining myself.
Letting my sisters love me when I can’t love myself.
Admitting I’m not okay—without the need to be fixed. Because real strength isn’t in how much we carry- it’s in knowing when to put it down.
A Word to My Sisters Wearing the Cape
To every Black woman who’s been the rock, the therapist, the peacemaker, the dependable one—You don’t owe anyone a performance of perfection. You are allowed to fall apart. You are allowed to need help. You are allowed to be soft. Quiet. Messy. Tender. You don’t have to hold the world up. Let the world hold you for once. And if today all you managed to do was wake up, get dressed, and not scream at anyone, Sis, that’s strong enough.
Now... if you see my keys, let me know.
With love and no cape,
Sharon.
Sisterhood and Support Systems
When You Can’t Do It Alone: How to Lean on Your Sisters When You're Struggling.
by Sharon Bailey
Hey Sis,
Let’s talk real for a minute.
You know those days when just getting out of bed feels like a whole task? When your mind is heavy, your heart is tired, and you’re juggling emotions you don’t even have words for? Yeah...I’ve been there too. Here’s what I’m learning: we don’t have to do this life thing alone.
We’ve been taught to be strong, to hold it all together, to smile through storms. But truthfully? There’s nothing cute about silently drowning. And there’s no award for suffering in silence. Sis, there is no shame in saying, “I’m not okay today.”
That’s what sisterhood is for. It’s not just about celebrating wins and posting matching fits—it’s about showing up for each other when the mask comes off. It’s texting, “Hey, I don’t have the energy to talk, but can you just pray for me?” It’s the friend who drops off soup and sits on the couch in silence with you. It’s the safe space to unravel and still be loved.
If you’re struggling, lean in. You don’t need to be perfect to be supported. You just need to be honest. Let your sisters love you. Let them check on you, cry with you, and remind you that you’re not a burden—you’re human. And if you're in a good place right now, be that sister. Check in, listen with your whole heart, and remind her she’s not walking through this alone.
Mini Sister Check-In Prompt:
This week, send this text to one of your sisters:
“Hey sis. Just thinking about you—how’s your heart feeling lately? Not just your day, but your heart? No pressure to be strong with me.”
Let’s keep showing up for each other in softness, in truth, and in love. That’s the real power of us. 💕
Affirmation Corner:
“I am not alone. I am worthy of support, softness, and sisterhood. It is safe to let others see the real me. I do not have to be strong all the time.”
Say it out loud. Write it on a sticky note. Whisper it to yourself when your heart feels heavy. Let it be a reminder that you are held—even when you’re not holding everything together.
Journal Prompt:
“When was the last time I let someone in—really in? What would it look like to ask for support without guilt or fear?”
Take a few minutes to sit with this. Be honest with yourself. You don’t have to share it with anyone—this is just for you and your healing.
With love and no cape,
Sharon
Managing Anxiety and Mental Health Medications
by Gods Favour Guillet, MS, PHE, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPXP
Effective management of both anxiety and mental health medications requires a comprehensive approach to achieving long term well-being. Picture this, you are on a tight deadline conscientiously working to complete a project. You are exhausted and your manager continuously badgers you to ask when it will be completed. When you send a draft of the project there are an overwhelming number of edits, many of which are superficial. Your content and visual presentation is heavily critiqued, even the font you use is inappropriate.
You are stressed, your head pounds, your heart races, and you begin to feel dizzy, sweaty, and short of breath. Terrified, you decide to go to urgent care, certain that you are having a stroke or a heart attack. Once you explain your symptoms, you are sent to the emergency room. After a workup including vital signs, blood tests, and an echocardiogram is completed, a physician comes to explain what's going on. She explains that all of your blood tests are normal, thereby refuting a diagnosis of stroke, or cardiac arrest/abnormality. She asks questions about your stress level and your coping methods. The physician informs you that you experienced a panic/anxiety attack. A panic attack is a “sudden episode of intense fear or anxiety and physical symptoms, based on a perceived threat rather than imminent danger.” She suggests that you seek professional counseling and prescribes Xanax (Alprazolam) for anxiety and Lexapro (Escitalopram) for depression. As you try to understand what has happened, many thoughts swirl through your mind- Am I crazy? How did I mistake a panic/anxiety attack for a life threatening condition? Will I get back to normal?
You should applaud yourself for seeking help for your health concerns. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of individuals around the world, significantly impacting daily functioning and overall quality of life. Women more than men experience panic disorder with varied frequency. Learning how your anxiety is triggered and taking steps to prevent and mitigate the triggers will improve your life.
Your thoughts shift to the medications. What will these medications do to me? Are they habit forming? You remember all the stories you have heard about mental health medications. They make you drool and have uncontrollable movements. They make you gain weight. They limit your focus. They make you feel like you are in a cloud. They make you so sleepy you cannot function normally. You wonder, is it possible to get better without taking the medications?
Medication affects people in different ways, and it may take several tries to find the right medication or right amount of medication that works, especially with mental health medications. Additionally, they are not like pain medications or antibiotics where relief is seen in hours to days, they may take several weeks to work. Keep notes of your response to your medications and share them with your healthcare provider. As of 2021, 65 million people (1 in 5) were prescribed medication to help them cope with stress, anxiety, or depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As you navigate through this condition you may also find yourself getting pulled into the stigma or perceived shame of mental illness and taking mental health medications. This feeling makes it more difficult to take the positive actions of taking your medications as prescribed, receiving regularly scheduled professional counseling, and practicing healthy behaviors such as getting adequate rest, eating a balanced diet, and regular physical exercise.
The mind, and emotions, are other parts of your being that need care, attention, and treatment especially when there is a health concern. Mental health is deeply connected to physical health. Consider this, if you scraped your knee, you would care for it right away. Identifying anxiety, collaborating with your healthcare provider, and taking appropriate mental health medications and treatments will support your mind, body, and spirit to allow you to be your best self.
More Than Bubble Baths
A Real Talk on Softness, Joy, and Self-Care for Black Women
by Sharon Bailey
Sisters, Let’s talk self-care. And not the Instagram version. I’m talking about real-life, heart-centered, soul-soothing care—the kind we don’t always make space for, but desperately need. Because when people say "self-care," what do we usually picture? Bubble baths. Face masks. A candle that smells like lavender and dreams. And don’t get me wrong, I love a eucalyptus soak just as much as the next girl. But for us—Black women—self-care isn’t just a cute vibe. It’s survival. It’s sacred. It’s a way home to ourselves. When you’re constantly navigating expectations, microaggressions, motherhood, grief, deadlines, church obligations, and that one family member who always needs something, what you need isn't just rest. You need restoration. You need soul care. And let's be real...it doesn’t always look glamorous. Sometimes self-care means:
Saying no without guilt or a paragraph-long explanation.
Canceling plans because your spirit is tired, not just your body.
Letting yourself cry in the car, in the shower, in your bed—and not rushing to “fix” it.
Logging off. Turning your phone on Do Not Disturb. Reclaiming your peace.
Asking for help even when you’re the one who always holds it together.
Softness is Sacred
Can we talk about softness? We weren’t always taught to value it. From a young age, many of us were given the cape of strength before we were even old enough to tie our shoes. We were told to be strong, stay composed, and keep going no matter what. But here’s a truth that feels like a deep exhale: Softness is not weakness. Softness is sacred. It says, I don’t have to earn my rest. It whispers, “Joy is mine to have, even if the world doesn’t hand it to me.” It reminds us that you deserve care in the small, everyday ways. And self-care? It’s not always loud or performative. Sometimes it’s silent. Subtle. Slow. It can be:
A candle lit while doing the laundry.
A playlist that makes you dance while cooking.
Laughing at a meme your best friend sent you at 1 AM.
Taking a moment before replying to that triggering text.
Tucking yourself into bed early, just because you deserve softness.
Joy Is Our Resistance
Choosing joy is not frivolous—it’s radical. It’s spiritual. It’s revolutionary. Joy says, “Even in a world that forgets my humanity, I choose to feel good.” Joy is not ignoring the heaviness—it’s refusing to let it steal every corner of your light.
And Sis, can I say this too? Self-care is not selfish. It’s survival. It’s strategy. It’s not about ignoring others—it’s about not abandoning yourself. So yes, run the bath water. Sip the tea. Light the candle. But also? Speak the boundary. Take the nap. Let someone else carry you for a change. You don’t have to earn your softness. You don’t have to justify your joy.
Reflection Corner: You are not here to be everything to everyone while being nothing to yourself. Softness belongs to you. Joy belongs to you. Let your self-care be your daily revolution.
Affirmation: “I am not just strong—I am worthy of softness, joy, and rest. I care for myself without guilt, and I protect my peace because it is holy.”
Don’t Talk to Me Until I’ve Had My Quiet Time (and My Coffee... and Maybe My Therapist)
by Sharon Bailey
Sisters, Listen. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but that whole “rise and grind” energy? Uhm...Yeah...No. These days, I’m more of a “rise, pause, sip, pray, ignore texts until I feel like a human” kind of girl, because let me tell you something: mornings are sacred. The way I start my day determines if I’m walking into the world feeling centered...or if I’m side-eying the first person who dares to ask me for something before 10 a.m.
The Art of the Soft Start
Gone are the days of rolling out of bed and jumping straight into chaos. Now? I need a moment. Preferably in silence. With my coffee, my devotional, and absolutely no unexpected emails. Just me, Jesus, and a good stretch. My phone? Still on Do Not Disturb. Group chat? Ignored with love. Children knocking? Gently redirected. Because I can’t pour into anyone until I’ve poured into myself and neither can you. That’s not selfish—that’s spiritual strategy.
Coffee (Tea), Quiet, and Mental Clarity
Now let’s talk about the Holy Trinity of my morning:
Quiet Time: whether it’s scripture, meditation, or just five minutes of deep breathing while hiding from responsibilities.
Tea (or coffee): because sometimes mental health is brewed in a mug.
My Therapist (or journal): because some mornings I need more than vibes—I need validation and emotional tools.
There’s something powerful about starting your day by affirming, “I deserve peace before productivity.” Let that sit for a second.
The Mental Health Message (Tucked Under All This Sass)
The truth is, how we start our mornings matters. As Black women, the world pulls at us from the moment our eyes open. People want things. Life demands things. And we give. And give. And give. But the practice of protecting your morning? That’s you giving to you first. Creating a morning ritual—no matter how simple—is your way of saying: “I matter. My mind matters. My peace matters.”
So whether your routine includes deep prayer or just hiding in the bathroom for five quiet minutes before the world finds you—that counts. That’s care. That’s resistance. That’s real.
Affirmation Corner: “I honor my need for quiet, care, and calm. I don’t rush my peace. I pour into me before I pour into the world.”
Now go ahead, my sisters. Light that candle. Stir that creamer. Turn up that gospel (or Erykah—we don’t judge here). Whatever your morning needs, give it to yourself without apology.
And if you don’t answer that text until noon? That’s your business.
Peace before people.
Sister to Sister Check-in
by: Sharon Bailey
Because sometimes the strongest ones need someone to ask, “How are you... really?”
This is your gentle reminder: check on your sister-friends. Not just when things seem off, but even when they seem okay. Especially when they seem okay. I saw on Instagram a few months ago where motivational speaker, Simon Sinek, talks about his friend, who is a woman, who was going through a difficult time and almost attempted suicide. He asked her why didn’t she ask for help. She explained that she did in very subtle ways, like asking, ‘want to come over?” He didn’t recognize that these were cries for help. He suggested that someone in distress only needs 8 minutes of help or support from a friend in order to feel better. He and his friend created a code word. If one of them is struggling, they send the text, “do you have 8 minutes?” It’s their way of communicating that I need you or I need help. That story always stuck with me—because how many of us have missed those quiet cries from our sisters? The truth is, sometimes help doesn’t come in loud words or dramatic gestures. Sometimes it’s hidden in a text, a sigh, or a soft “you busy?” That’s why intentional check-ins matter. A simple message can be the very thing that keeps someone going.
So here are a few ways you can check in on your sister this week—just to let her know she’s not alone:
“Hey Sis, no need to respond right away—I just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you. How’s your heart feeling lately?”
“Do you have 8 minutes?”
“If today feels heavy, I’m here to help you carry it. Or at least hold space for you while you set it down.”
“What’s one thing you need today that you might not even know you need? Let’s talk it out.”
“You crossed my mind. Just checking in—what do you need today?”
“Do you need a vent session, a laugh, a prayer, or just someone to sit in silence with you? I got you.”
“You don’t always have to be the strong one, you know. I see you. I care. I’m here.”
“I see you doing your best. I’m proud of you—even if it doesn’t feel like much right now.”
Sometimes we overthink what to say. Here’s a Sister check-in text you can copy, tweak, and send today:
Hey sis 💛
You were on my heart, and I just wanted to check in. No pressure to talk, but if you’ve got the space (or just need a laugh, a vent, or a voice to sit with), I’m here. You don’t have to be “on” with me. Just be. Love you.
Create Your Code Word
Because sometimes, “I’m not okay” is hard to say. Invite your close friends or sisters to create a simple, loving code word or phrase between you and your sisters—something that means “I need you right now,” even when words fail. It can be anything:
“8 minutes?”
“Can we pause the world?”
“Pineapple”
The key: Make sure you both understand what it means, and honor it when it comes. It’s a small act that builds deep emotional safety—and that’s real sisterhood.
Let’s keep checking in—without waiting for a crisis. Let’s make it a habit. A rhythm. A way of life. Sisterhood is medicine and you are worth the healing. Feel free to actually send one of these to someone you love. Because sometimes, a few words are all it takes to remind a sister she’s not alone in this world.
Scripture Reflection
“In the multitudes of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”
Psalm 94:19 (NKJV)
A Comfort Only GOD Can Give
by Minister Nedelka F. Prescod
Our reflection focal text is verse 19 of Psalm 94, coming out of one of the books in our Bible, considered to be the anthology of Hebrew religious hymns -meaning the words were sung. Yet, I would like us to take a slow walk to the focus text and imagine beginning a hymn or song with the very first line of Psalm 94 as it reads in the New International Version: “ The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth.”
There’s a lot of interesting songs in our world today, and for many of them, the lyrics can be questionable. But, here in our Bible, this chapter begins with the attitude we laugh about in social media culture saying, “oh they woke up and chose violence!” The King James Version says; “O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.” The writer (assumed to be David, though there is no attribution to him) holds no punches and immediately gets to the point, calling out to GOD, acknowledging GOD’s authority and asking GOD to show up in a visible way with “rewards” for the “proud” and to exact justice. Well, who are the proud? The oppressors. Those who are arrogant and selfishly entitled, with no consideration for others. And the “rewards” requested are not the kind anyone I know would be excited to receive or cash in on. The requested “rewards” here are strong consequences “given in recognition of one's service, effort, or achievements.” For that is the definition of a reward -to give what is earned based on behavior and actions. The writer follows up this request with receipts, a litany of those who have offended, and how they have offended.
Listen. I get it. When we’ve had enough, though 1 Corinthians 13:5 teaches that “love keeps no record of wrong”, we sometimes have a justifiable grocery list full of the ways we feel offended, and can recite that list backward, forward, and in any improvised order based on our mood at the moment. I get it. As James Brown says in his iconic song, “The Payback”: “Revenge! I’m mad! Got to get back!”
And I don’t believe I’m the only one that is currently surveying the spiritual and sociological lay of our shared land, holding deep concerns for, and maybe even fears of, what is being presented before our eyes moment by moment throughout our days. Days turning into weeks, and weeks into months of a building storyline we fervently want to rewrite. There’s a feeling of powerlessness that can arise within us when we are confronted by those and those things that seem to move with unbridled authority against us and in ways that offend, oppress, harm and take advantage of others for their personal benefit, whatever that may be, and with no care and concern for anyone else besides those of their kindred mind.
I must admit that there have been times when I’ve looked back over my life, and instead of counting the blessings, I recited my list, named the names, and counted the ways I’d been offended. But I’ve learned that living in wait for some rectifying fate to happen to anyone is not a helpful or prosperous way to live life. In fact, the Bible is clear about desiring vengeance. It’s GOD’s. In GOD’s supreme wisdom, the consummate balancer of all things seen and unseen, and yet, loving...GOD offers a way to live life that allows us to heal and grow, even as our offenders can, if we so choose. GOD is not our personal genie. We can’t sic GOD on anyone. And to lay in wait for another’s demise because we believe that should be their reward is not the best use of energy, time, thought and emotion we could use to better our own selves, learn any available lessons, and make new choices hat bring us into healthier communities, realities, and relationships.
Let’s not pretend that it is that easy, especially if we are dealing with forces, or as the Bible puts it in Ephesians 6:12, “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Though, as we get closer to our focal text the writer begins to take a turn in a different direction starting around verse 15:
“But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.”
Where the focus was originally on the offenders, we now see a focus on the righteous, the upright in heart, and I’ll even say, the believers. This faith walk is not easy. We rely on our senses to navigate the world; our eyes, our ears, our noses. As people of faith, we are called to use our senses while simultaneously trusting in GOD to interpret and make sense of what we receive, and wait... to receive an understanding for the best way to move, or the understanding that we should keep still. In so doing, we then begin to have a shift in perspective when we realize that in the midst of our being and feeling offended we were unable to see the full picture. We then even begin to shift our gaze and no longer focus on the problem and trust GOD to lead us into solutions.
This shift is our reward. It’s a privilege of being a believer. It’s the vision we begin to receive that makes small of the matters that once offended. So, at verse 15 the writer pivots and begins to remember that “if GOD be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:32).
The writer’s next question begins to remind me of Steve Harvey’s famous two-minute introduction of Jesus the Christ, leaving the audience in a standing ovation and himself in tears. At this point in our text, it’s less a question than it is praise report:
“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.”
My, my. You can feel the shift. The shift from fear and anxiety to trust as they look back over their life and think some things over and remember that if it had not been for GOD on their side... oh, where would we be?
Taking our attention off the problem and placing all in the infinite and supernatural realm of GOD’s sovereignty is the game-changer. When thoughts overwhelm, turning our thoughts unto GOD is the way to a peace that passeth all understanding. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying just sit and think, for faith without action brings nothing. But at the end of the day, as verse 19 states: “ In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”
I wanted to leave you with a song whose lyrics remind you and me to keep our thoughts stayed on God, and I had a hard time choosing one. So, I’m sharing a playlist. Remember: shift your perspective and “think on these things” (Philippians 4:8): “When the care of [our] hearts are many, [GOD’s] consultations cheer [our] souls.
Be blessed. Be in peace.
Playlist for Peace
“A Praying Spirit”- Karen Clark Sheard
“Fear Is Not My Future” - Maverick City
“Firm Foundation” - Maverick City
“GOD Blocked It” - Kurt Carr
“I Trust You” - Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“My Life Is In Your Hands” - Kirk Franklin
“Psalm 94:19”- Phillip Carter
“Trust Me” - Richard Smallwood
“You Are God Alone” - Marvin Sapp
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” - as recorded by Aretha Franklin
The Final Word
My Beautiful Sisters,
If no one’s told you lately, I want you to hear it from me: you matter. Your rest matters. Your feelings are valid. Your softness is not weakness. You don’t have to have it all together to be deeply worthy of love and support.
This newsletter was created with you in mind—with your tired days, your unspoken worries, your brave heart, and your bright spirit. I pray that as you read each word, you felt seen. That something here made you exhale. Smile. Pause. Feel a little less alone.
We are not meant to do life by ourselves. So even if you don’t feel strong right now—even if all you did today was survive—I want you to know: that’s enough. You’re enough.
Sis, life gets heavy sometimes—but you don’t have to carry it all alone. Let this be your reminder that support isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. Whether you’re the one reaching out or the one holding space, every small act of care matters.
So today, send that check-in text. Create that code word. Be the soft place your sister can land—and let someone be that for you too.
You are held. You are seen. You are loved.
With love, truth, and sisterhood,
Shay💜
May the Lord watch between me and thee while we’re absent one from another. Amen.
Let’s keep showing up for each other. Let’s keep choosing joy. Let’s keep healing out loud.
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