I got a little too ambitious and thought I’d be able to say the condensed version of everything I wanted to say in one short episode, so today we’re going to be talking about actions that we can take.

Have you ever tried to unlock a door that wouldn’t open? At first, you think you might be doing something wrong. Maybe there’s a trick to it. You pull the key back a little. It doesn’t work. You wiggle the key. It doesn’t work. You keep trying, but the door stays locked. After a while, you realize the problem isn’t you - it’s the key. That’s what it’s like for minorities trying to access mental health care.

Today I’m going to be talking about grounding and relaxation techniques. I know I’ve talked about them before in my stress management episode, but I’m going to go over a few again as well as talking about some new ones.

In 1924, the Society for Human Rights was founded and is the first documented gay rights organization. People in the LGBTQIA community have experienced a lot of turmoil in the past and present. In this episode, I talk about some of that and give you resources you can go to and share with a friend or family member in need.

Learn more about anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder! Next week, we'll go over OSFED and resources for eating disorders.

If you're going to attend protests, do so safely. Here are some tips to maximize your safety while out there. I know this is far off from what I normally talk about, but the racial injustices that are being talked about right now are causing a lot of mental anguish and people have the right to protest and I want to make sure those who do choose to protest are as safe as possible.

Did you do last week's homework? Here's how to cope with stressors in your daily life. Some may work for you and some may not. You're a unique individual and I care about you.

What stresses you out? Do you know the difference between healthy and unhealthy stress? How do you cope?