One in three adults will experience a period of problematic coping behaviours in their lifetime and over 70 percent of women report using food, work, shopping, alcohol or digital distraction to manage chronic stress rather than pleasure.
These patterns are rarely about addiction in the way we are taught to think about it. They are about survival.
We need to ask the question many avoid.
Why do we wait for betrayal, disease, heartbreak, a near-death moment or total collapse before we decide to change?
Why must the body scream, the relationship implode or the peace disappear before we finally say “I’m done living like this”?
Here is the real question.
These are the friends who constantly judge, correct or undermine you even in the name of "being honest."
Chronic exposure to criticism triggers the amygdala the brain’s fear centre leading to stress, self-doubt and a heightened cortisol response. Over time, this can weaken neural pathways related to confidence and emotional resilience (Harvard Health, 2021).
You need relationships that activate your prefrontal cortex where growth, problem-solving and empathy reside. Constant criticism shuts that down.
Childhood trauma can leave lasting scars, especially for women who often carry the we
ht of early experiences into adulthood, affecting various aspects of their lives. Neuroscience and psychology reveal that the brain’s development is profoundly impacted by traumatic events in childhood, influencing how women navigate relationships, careers and their mental health.
Black women, in particular, face a unique intersection of cultural and societal pressures, compounding their trauma and exacerbating its effects. Understanding these impacts is crucial to breaking the cycle and embracing healing.
1. Emotional Abuse:
Proud Sista!
Proud Sista!
Proud Sista!
Proud Sista!
