Unswtnd + Unfltrd

Why is God angry with me?

In Ep. 33 of Season 2, we sit down with Sarah Sultan to discuss those shameful but pressing questions we have about Allah and His presence during tough times, the impact trauma can have on our relationship with our faith and what to do when we're too depressed to even pray.

We’ve talked about how trauma can have an ever-lasting effect on how we see ourselves, but it can also have an impact on how we perceive our connection to and our relationship with God.

Although some of us could never imagine ourselves questioning God, it’s crucial that we extend the conversation to include those who do so, secretly.

Sarah explains how we can pull ourselves out of those dark moments and rebuild the bridge that connects us to our faith and to Allah.

When times are tough, and depression has us too down to pray, let alone get out of bed, Sarah dives into how we can help ourselves and help those dealing with such feelings.

As a reminder, we need to leave our preconceived judgement at the door, because it’s not welcomed here. This is a space meant for vulnerable conversations and we can’t thank Sarah enough for her wisdom and motivating words.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Sarah On Instagram: @sarahsultantherapy
Check out Sarah's lectures: https://yaqeeninstitute.org/team/sarah-sultan

On this week’s “Unfltrd Thoughts”, we discuss silly, but still kind of important deal breakers.

Whether it’s the type of shoes that they wear (yes, this is a big concern to one of us, apparently) or what reality shows they’re into, we all have those little pet peeves that’ll send us packing.

In this light-hearted conversation, we talk about some of the obvious and not so obvious things we can’t put up with.

Head to our Instagram page @unsweetenedandunfiltered and join the conversation. Do you have any silly deal breakers? 

Stressed out? Ladies, let’s talk!

In Ep. 32 of Season 2, we sit down with Zermina Akbary from Living Wholelistic to talk about the mind, body & spiritual connection, the benefits of seed cycling and ways to reduce & manage our stress.

In a very raw and vulnerable conversation, Zermina opens up about her life journey and the moments she felt at her lowest. She explains that during tough and ultra-stressful times it isn’t just our physical wellness that takes a hit, but also our spiritual and mental health as well. It is a web that is truly intertwined.

The toll stress can have on our bodies goes beyond your monthly acne breakout or migraine. Zermina says stress is one of the many factors driving infertility and cancer cases up in our community - as well as what we consume.

So, how do we handle all the stress-filled situations life throws at us?

We highlight some practices to help, like acupuncture, journaling and guided mediation.

Now let’s talk hormones.

Hormones are the silent factor that truly impact our behavior, growth and metabolism, no matter what time of the month it is. 

Zermina walks us through something called “seed cycling” and how it can help to promote a healthy balance of estrogen, increase fertility and even ease PMS symptoms!

Leading a healthy lifestyle is more than just sweating it out at the gym or cooking up a balanced meal in the kitchen, it also means checking up on your mental and spiritual well being, too!

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Zermina on Instagram: @living_wholelistic

On this week’s “Unfltrd Thoughts”, we answer the question: “Would you rather know the truth no matter how painful, or would you prefer being comforted by little white lies?”

The truth is a powerful tool, one that can unlock many layers of a relationship.
But what if a truth is too much for you to handle?

We discuss our own personal thoughts on radical honesty, and just how hurtful it can be to find yourself on the receiving end of a lie being told.

Head to our Instagram page @unsweetenedandunfiltered and join the conversation. Which scenario would you prefer? 

Leaving a trail of hair strands everywhere you go? If you’re worried about hair loss and hair thinning, trust us when we say you’re not alone.

In Ep. 31 of Season 2, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Kiani and Pari to discuss a topic that has been on the top of the minds of many women, literally.

We dive right into our own personal hair loss journeys and the reason its become a taboo topic to discuss.

Dr. Sarah breaks down the lifespan of a hair follicle and explains why some hair shedding is completely normal.

Whether its your diet, genetics, a health condition or some other underlying reason- Dr. Sarah explains the internal and external factors that can lead to hair loss.

We also debunk some hair loss myths and share some tips we’ve personally added to our morning and nighttime routines to keep our hair healthy and growing. And for our hijabi listeners- we got some handy hair care advice for you all as well!

In this episode we’re also joined by Pari who opens up about her recent bout with hair loss both with postpartum and as she discovers her Alopecia Areata diagnosis. In a very unfiltered and vulnerable discussion, the new-mommy walks us through her struggles and how she’s learning to love the beautiful woman she sees staring back at her in the mirror, again.

Hair loss is a vulnerable thing to talk about, but we are grateful for the strong ladies who share their personal journeys with us, in order to help others.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Dr. Sarah Kiani on Instagram: @drsarahkiani
Follow Pari on Instagram: @thecentralsteppes

On this week’s “Unfltrd Thoughts", we talk about how to handle finding out your friend’s true colors.

Our differences make us who we are and when it comes to our friend groups it’s those differences that lead to intriguing conversations and learning more about the other.

But what if those differences go against or negate your own life's values?

We’re not talking about rooting for an opposing sports team here, but what if, for instance, you find out your friend supports Trump?

We share our thoughts on discovering those friendship deal breakers and how we would respond to a similar situation.

Head to our Instagram page @unsweetenedandunfiltered and join the conversation. Would you stay friends with someone who supported a cause you are firmly against?

When it comes to finding a naseeb, it seems like the odds are stacked against us from the start. But as a divorcee, the challenges are stacked even higher.

In Ep. 30 of Season 2, we sit down with Lisa Vogl to talk about life post-divorce, the collateral damage that comes with it and how our community can band together to help change the negative perception of divorced women.

Unfortunately, women are often seen as the reason for the divorce, even when it wasn’t their fault. We dive into the Scarlett Letter that divorced women are forced to wear and the cloud of negativity that seems to follow them around.

Are the women in our community equally to blame for the way we view divorcees, too? Let's collectively learn how to quit the gossip and stop viewing divorced women as a “last option” for men who are looking for a potential partner.

We also discuss opening ourselves up to a new relationship and how its never an easy thing to do, especially when factoring in previous experiences and hardships.  Lisa explains what values she holds close to her heart and the red flags she keeps an eye out for.

Divorce isn’t a bad word, and it definitely shouldn’t determine our worth as women, because no matter what the circumstances are, you are not defined by your marital status.


Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Lisa on Instagram: @lisamvogl
Shop Verona

***If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for help by contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline***

On this week’s “Unfltrd Thoughts", we talk about soulmates and whether or not we think they exist.

Life isn’t a Disney movie or romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks - unfortunately.  But does that mean soulmates are a thing of fiction?

The idea of finding your soulmate has become more of a cliche than anything else over the years, but the idea that there is someone out there made especially for you, is an idea we want to hang on to.

We also dive into the ayah “we created you in pairs”, and whether that applies to everyone.

Head to our Instagram page @unsweetenedandunfiltered and join the conversation. Do you think soulmates are the same thing as “naseeb”? 

No matter how much time you take to prep the nursery, baby-proof your home or reread  “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” - nothing will ever truly prepare you for what's to come.

In Ep. 29 of Season 2, we sit down with Sara Ahmed to talk about postpartum depression, the internal and external struggles of seeking help and how we can learn to love and appreciate our bodies.

Sara dives into her pregnancy and post-pregnancy journeys and debunks some pretty common postpartum myths.

The anxiety, the depression and the stigma that still surrounds mental health- the now mother-of-two outlines her path to getting help and the feedback she received from her community once she did.

Sara also opens up about her use of antidepressants to help treat her postpartum depression and the reason she is no longer reluctant in taking the prescription.

We end this episode discussing body positivity. Sara talks about how she put aside those negative thoughts she had of her body, and instead learned to love every inch of herself. Let’s stop waiting on our “ideal weight” in order to feel good about ourselves.

It is women like Sara who are true trailblazers in the de-stigmatization of mental health. The more we open up about our struggles, the more empowered we feel, collectively.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Sara on Instagram: @sugarlandsara

Read Sara's Huffington Post article HERE

If you or someone you know is suffering from Postpartum Depression here are some resources that may help:
www.acog.org
www.postpartum.net
www.womenshealth.gov

In our first "Unfltrd Thoughts", we talk about forgiveness.

We dig deep into our own personal process when it comes to forgiving those who've wronged us and moments that may signal conflicts that are yet unresolved.

One of the hardest relationships to have is the one you share with yourself. So, learning to forgive past mistakes you've made isn't the easiest thing to do, but we talk about how we're learning to cut ourselves some slack.

Don't forget to head to our Instagram page @unsweetenedandunfiltered and share your thoughts on forgiveness with us.