My birthday just passed and I wanted to use this space to reflect on my last year.

Talking about feeling lost, not feeling good enough for social media presence, and somehow still going and findings ways to remind myself of the good.

BROWN GIRLS TALK — MINI SERIES (Rav & Nisha)

Two brown girls. One queer, one straight. Same world in some ways, different in others.

We talk about intersectionality without the jargon — what it means to hold your own experience while making space for someone else's, why comparing pain misses the point, and how systems fail people in different ways.

Visible versus invisible identities. Moving from comparison to compassion. Underrepresented, in an already unrepresented community.

If you've struggled with validating your own experience while seeing someone else's — this one's for you.

In this episode, my dear friend Nikita (a trainee GP) and I discuss whether common mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are over-diagnosed in the UK. We discuss topics such as, resilience, systemic issues, privilege, the NHS and more. Let us know what you think!

Why do we find ourselves chasing people who hurt us or don’t want us? In this episode, we dive into the psychology behind toxic relationship patterns, trauma bonding, and why we’re drawn to people who mirror past pain. We’ll explore concepts like repetition compulsion, the "I can fix them" mentality, and how love can sometimes feel more like an addiction than a choice.

If you’ve ever wondered why healthy love can feel boring or why you keep holding onto someone who hurts you, this episode is for you. Let’s break the cycle and understand what it really means to find love that feels safe and steady.

The Partition of 1947, the expulsion of Asians from Uganda, the Indo-Pak wars, the Sri Lankan civil war — South Asian history is filled with moments of conflict and displacement that continue to echo through generations.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Ammara Khalid, Psy.D,  a clinical psychologist from Chicago, who is currently writing a book about intergenerational trauma and the Partition. We explore how historical trauma shows up in our lives today, from mental health struggles to family dynamics, and discuss the resilience that carries communities forward.

If your family was affected by Partition, you can contribute to her research by sharing your family’s story: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12AdRXZN44HIHsbv5yFx-8UGJAf4RwoGN/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112270683107976986767&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Follow Dr Ammara Khalid and learn more about her work:

• Website: Online Therapy Sessions for Individuals & Families

• Instagram: @dr.ammarakhalid

Check out this website to learn more about the Partition of 1947 and intergenerational trauma:

Home - 1947 partition archive

Let’s break the silence, honour our ancestors, and continue the journey of healing.

Have you ever opened up about your mental health only to be dismissed, by a casual "sorry about that" or "OMG same", for it to never be brought up again?

I am joined by Jaydee Shamsuddin-Roberts, a psychological well-being practitioner based in Manchester. Together, we discuss why these dismissive responses happens - Is it that we don't know what to say, "mental health" sounds too serious or talking about it simply makes you weak?

In this episode of "Do you mind?", we dive into the fascinating world of Bollywood and its portrayal of psychiatric illnesses. Joined by Dr. Gayatri Bhatia, an addiction psychiatrist, we discuss her insightful research paper, "Movies and matters of the mind - portrayal of psychiatric illnesses in Bollywood over the last two decades: A content analysis."

Explore the dynamic between reel and real as we analyse how Bollywood films have depicted psychiatric illnesses, the impact of these portrayals on public perception, and what steps Bollywood can take to ensure more accurate and empathetic representations.

Tune in to uncover the truth behind the cinematic lens and its influence on societal views of psychiatric disorders.

How many times has cultural competency or decolonising mental health just been an optional module just to tick a box in the curriculum?

I am joined by Kiran Shetra, a trainee clinical psychologist, discussing barriers that racialised groups experience into the prestigious career of clinical psychology, touching on western ideologies within psychological theories & interventions and the importance of being anti-racist. 

"Vah, my son can make chai, he's so talented"... "He stands up for himself when he believes something is wrong, he will be such a good husband and father."

"Besharam, she talks back when she thinks she's right... In my day, young girls would keep quiet and not interfere in serious matters."

Traditional, unfair gender differences and double standards are unfortunately still prevalent today, but we are starting to question and combat these issues. Dr Ranjot Bhogal and I discuss these gender differences and double standards in the south Asian community, and how it affects men and women of our generation. 

Don't forget to follow on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doyoumind_podcast/

I'm joined by Zuha Ali, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin kicking off the season discussing the similarities and differences of the UK and US mental health systems in place. One of the main topics we discuss is the financial aspect of mental health care between the UK and the US, however, we discover some similarities in the stigma of mental illness/health from the brown/Asian community. 

Send in your thoughts and comments - Instagram @doyoumind_podcast

Love, 

Nisha x