Psalm 34:18 (NIV): “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Hello! I wanna share my journey with you, dealing with depression. Hope this resonates with someone out there!

Back in my early 20s, a doc dropped the D-word on me – depression. And I was like, “Nah, not me! I don’t feel sad like people think depression is.” See, sadness is an emotion, like when you lose someone, that’s feeling sad. But depression, it’s those sneaky negative thoughts. It’s hanging around negativity, doing all sorts of bad stuff with a smile on your face. Ever wonder why folks don’t see it coming when someone takes such a tragic step? It’s ’cause the person often seems happy. I figured this out when I started taking medication. Suddenly, negativity had no room in my life. Hanging out with negative vibes? Nope, not anymore! But here’s the kicker. My world shook when my boyfriend died in a motorcycle accident. The pain was so deep that crying felt like my brain might burst. I had to stop the meds. Now, I’m not saying everyone should take meds, but if you find joy in negativity or you’re a negative person yourself, these meds can work wonders. I get it, there’s a stigma around it, but look at me – writing this blog and doing productive things because I chose positivity! It hit me that many in the Black community, especially in the hood, might be grappling with some form of depression. I think it’s because of generational trauma handed down since slavery days. I’m not trying to be all “woke,” but I’m “awake.” Docs kept telling me I had depression, and I started to see it. Now, I believe weed can be a remedy for depression and anxiety. But, hey, it makes me lazy and hungry! So, I save it for when I’m just chilling, watching a movie, or scrolling through TikTok after I’ve handled my work.

Did you know that one of the reasons it was made illegal was based on some wild stereotypes? Back in the day, they claimed it made Black and Latino men aggressive and, well, let’s say it, “horny.” I did some digging and found an old newspaper article from the 1940s that shed light on this madness. Ever noticed how certain words and meanings in dictionaries can change over time? Just like the “N-word” and others. Language evolves, and so do the perceptions around it. Let’s keep questioning, researching, and challenging the stereotypes. It’s time for a reality check! If you’re curious about my journey with trauma and mental health, check out my book: https://linktr.ee/Resellriri It’s all in there.

That’s all for now, Take care!