Habari gani, fam? Today we focus on the principle of kujichagulia, or self-determination. Any people that have struggled to throw off the legacy of slavery and institutional racism fundamentally struggle for the right to determine who they are themselves, instead of accepting the role the dominant culture pushes on them. As Black Americans, we deal … Continue reading Kwanzaa 2020: Kujichagulia
Tag: mental illness
(Mental Health) How to Help Others
When I look back on the person I was in college -- during the worst period of my depression -- I am honestly amazed that I still have so many friends who knew me back then. I spent most of my time in the computer lab talking to folks online, and barely had enough energy … Continue reading (Mental Health) How to Help Others
(Mental Health) How to Help Yourself
If I could have readers leave the Desk at the end of the month with only one new piece of information, it's that mental illnesses are actual, physical ailments in the brain. While the way we think and perceive has something to do with how the illnesses are expressed, the fact remains that most conditions … Continue reading (Mental Health) How to Help Yourself
(Mental Health) My Executive Function
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a bit of a misnomer; I think the name is a big reason why ADHD is so poorly understood and controversial as a mental illness. Those of us with the disorder aren't necessarily hyperactive, and it isn't always characterized by a deficit in attention. We aren't bouncing off the walls … Continue reading (Mental Health) My Executive Function
(Personal) Cracking Myself Open
One of the earliest memories I have about my mental illness is breaking down in the middle of lunch in sixth or seventh grade. Things were not going well for me. I was a shy and awkward kid who loved reading fantasy books. I was really sensitive, so I didn't hold up to bullying very … Continue reading (Personal) Cracking Myself Open
(Mental Health) What The Chemicals Feel Like
I have dealt with depression for my entire life. I suffered from it before I even knew what it was; some of my earliest memories are staring at the ground, feeling empty and sad for no reason. My first suicidal ideation happened when I was in 6th or 7th grade and before that I imagined … Continue reading (Mental Health) What The Chemicals Feel Like
(Mental Health) What Is Depression, Anyway?
On the weekend before last, I walked all night to raise money and promote visibility for suicide prevention and related issues. There were more than a thousand people with me, all dedicated to this cause because they had been touched by mental illness and the havoc it can wreak over the lives of people who … Continue reading (Mental Health) What Is Depression, Anyway?
A Look Into the Future
I've been a little more quiet on the writing front than I feel comfortable with, but there's a reason for that. When I get deep into various projects, I tend to talk about them less because I guess I don't want to reveal how the sausage is made before it's presented. When I push a … Continue reading A Look Into the Future
The Anxious Rabbit
One of the reasons I believe Rabbit is such a helpful totem for me is that fear is such a strong emotion within me. I'm afraid all the time, of various things real and imagined, and that fear drives a great deal of my behavior. One of the lessons Rabbit teaches is how to move … Continue reading The Anxious Rabbit
Rabbit-Hearted Guy
No Shame Day was last week and I completely missed it, so I thought I would take a bit of time to open up further about my mental health issues. I believe that the more we discuss these things openly, the more people understand the nature of mental illness and the more we destigmatize those … Continue reading Rabbit-Hearted Guy
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 