Kay Hutchinson: Narcissistic Abuse Tranforming the Devastation Holistically

Viewpoint

May is a month of new beginnings with graduations, entering into adulthood, going to college and making life decisions for the future. But even with the excitement and life changes, many people can struggle with sadness, anxiety, loneliness and more.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.This is important because many people in our community manage their mental health in silence. However, there has been a recent call to stop the silence and the stigma, making room for getting help and support. Our community does have barriers of finding black counselors, moving past the judgment (which is not easy), and getting the help needed to manage their mental health issues.

Our faith and spirituality has been our support systems. These are needed but to live in a way that feels good and allows you to have some happiness and focus, receiving help for our mental health needs to be done. In recent times, we have seen not only talk therapy but we see holistic approaches, self-care and education to help realize how to care for your mental health.

In this issue, we will address and provide information about Mental Health Awareness Month. If you need immediate help, please call Integral Care 512-472-4357.

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How Eating from Dr. Sebi’s Food List Changed My Life

By Christina Gobert, Contributing Writer

As mentioned in the April issue, I have been following the teachings of Dr. Sebi for the past 4 years in order to live a healthier lifestyle. I have eaten about 90% of my diet exclusively from the food list (see link below). As a result, I have noticed the following changes:

• Nervous system feels more stable

• Dramatic decrease in feelings of anxiety

• No longer experience depression

• Smoother skin

• Smile lines on face disappeared (likely due to increased collagen due to sea moss)

• Feel more radiant from inside out

• Decreased stress level

• Rapid hair/nail growth + strength (food + sea moss + water consumption)

• No joint issues

• No acne

• Improved digestion (empty bowels after each meal

• No more dental issues

• The menstrual cycle decreased from 7 to 3 days and getting lower each cycle! Also, period pain and amount of blood has decreased dramatically. From videos I have watched, Dr. Sebi followers eventually stop having a cycle altogether, as Dr. Sebi explains the menstrual cycle is due to the type of food we consume.

If you would like to experience more vitality and increased well-being please consider replacing staple foods with better alternatives from the food list. You can download Dr.

Sebi’s food list here. Challenge yourself to eat from the list for 2 weeks and see how you feel!

Remember: “If Mother Nature didn’t make it, don’t take it”-Dr. Sebi

Christina G

Holistic Well-Being Guide

Ayurveda Teacher|Meditation Teacher

https://www.naturalhealingwellnessco.com

Imperfect Moments

By Jacqueline Johnson, Contributing Writer

In the age of curated social media feeds and seemingly perfect parenting blogs, the pressure to have it all together as a mom can feel overwhelming. The reality, however, is far from the pictureperfect images often portrayed online. Many mothers find themselves navigating a delicate balancing act, striving to meet the demands of motherhood while also practicing self-care and maintaining a sense of individuality. It's a journey marked by both triumphs and stumbles, where imperfection is not only accepted but embraced.

Being a mom and not having it all together is not a sign of failure; rather, it's a testament to the complexities of modern motherhood. From juggling countless responsibilities to managing the inevitable chaos that comes with raising children, there are bound to be moments when things feel overwhelming. And that's okay. It's important to acknowledge that no one has all the answers, and every mom is simply doing the best she can with the resources available to her.

In the midst of the chaos, finding balance becomes essential. Balancing the needs of your children with your own needs requires intentionality and self-awareness. It means carving out time for self-care, whether it's through exercise, hobbies, or simply taking a few moments to breathe and recharge. Self-care isn't selfish; it's a vital component of maintaining mental and emotional well-being, which ultimately benefits both you and your family.

But even with the best intentions, there will inevitably be days when things don't go as planned. Maybe the laundry piles up, or dinner ends up being cereal instead of a home-cooked meal. There may be moments of doubt or frustration, wondering if you're doing enough or if you're falling short as a parent. But it's important to remember that perfection is an impossible standard. It's okay to have bad days, to make mistakes, and to ask for help when you need it.

What sets a resilient mom apart is her ability to keep moving forward, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. She acknowledges her shortcomings but refuses to be defined by them. She finds strength in vulnerability and resilience in adversity. And above all, she embraces the messy, beautiful journey of motherhood, knowing that it's not about having it all together but rather about finding joy and fulfillment in the imperfect moments along the way.

Contributing Writer, Jacqueline “ooh” Johnson

Jacqueline Johnson, a proud Texan, currently resides in Denton, TX, Jacqueline is the visionary behind Jacquie ooh, an online resource hub committed to equipping women with the tools they need to think well and live well. Additionally, Jacqueline has spearheaded the development of the Glow Collection by Jacquie ooh, an exceptional line of all-natural skincare products. Jacqueline is also very involved in her community where she volunteers and is the precinct chair in her county. She is the author of: “Glow Through It” 21-Day Devotional Journal for Women, and “Dare to Sparkle” Entrepreneur Guide plus Dream Big 4-Day Devotional. And, most recently her remarkable show, “Motivational Monday with Jacquie ooh” received the 2023 Bronze Telly Award for being an exceptional online talk show. For more information on Jacquie ooh please visit www.jacquieooh.com

She Speaks Wellness:

“Don’t Look Like What You Have Gone Through”

By Minister Sonya Hosey, Contributing Writer

Women wear Tshirts with the empowering phrase “I don't look like what I've been through" and openly discuss their experiences. Despite spending billions of dollars on makeup and hair and achieving success in our careers, we share stories that, at one time, only our inner selves can hear.

Transparency is critical, but listening to your inner voice and sharing your story when the time is right is equally important. Even when others saw me becoming frail, I tried to survive, but only I could hear it. Now, I'm frequently asked to share my story, and I proudly wear my T-shirt with the phrase, "I don’t look like what I’ve been through."

I have been fortunate to meet some incredible women. We share a deep connection where words are unnecessary to understand each other. Watching these women become their true selves makes me feel like a proud mother hen. Thank you, Pam, for raising your fist with hope for liberation. She probably trembled as she stood but stood vulnerable with grace, offering hope to others even when she’d never seen their faces.

Transparency is essential for transformation. Being honest about our emotions and thoughts leads to powerful encounters with God. - Sarah Jakes Roberts. Your stories, shared with courage and vulnerability, have the potential to inspire generations and bring about profound change.

Join my Iron Sharpens Iron Table Talk Podcast and share your story to empower women everywhere. Remember, we are overcomers by the word of our testimony; we don't look like what we've been through. God still restores Job-42:10 She Speaks Wellness, and She is Well!

To get in touch with me, visit Ironsharpensiron4mysisters.com.

Optical Illusions

By Aubrie, Contributing Writer

Last weekend, I went to the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, California. If you’ve ever been to Northern California, you see at least one bumper sticker for this place on the back of a car in most parking lots, regardless of the city. I’ve been to Santa Cruz at least a dozen times and my boyfriend goes to school there, but neither of us had ever been to the Mystery Spot.

The day we went it was unseasonably cold, given that it had been 75 degrees just days before. It was incredibly crowded even though it was about an hour and a half before closing, and there was about a thirty minute wait until the next tour. While we waited we walked through the gift shop, which contained every type of branded merchandise you could imagine. When the tour started, we were greeted by a very chipper tour guide and surrounded by what seemed to be one or two very large families. It was one of those typical tourist traps, but when I left I couldn’t stop thinking about it. My boyfriend kept talking about how the level was probably rigged and that there was no way that any of the tricks we were shown were scientifically possible, but there was a certain aura of mysticism that I didn’t want to ignore.

I feel like we live in a time where “truth” outweighs everything to a fault. When I was younger, it seemed a lot more widely accepted that there were just some things we didn’t know, and that was okay. This is something that I’ve even noticed in myself. As soon as the tour was over, the first thing I looked up was how the Mystery Spot worked. I wasn’t even looking for some sort of scientific explanation; I really just wanted someone else to confirm what I was feeling, someone to feel the magic with me. I don’t know why I do this, but I do it with everything. I’ll watch a TV show and check the internet to see if anyone has the same opinions as me, look at a video on Instagram and scroll through the comments, and the list goes on. Maybe something in me just wants to feel heard, to belong to something.

TRANSFORM THE DEVASTATION OF NARCISSISTIC ABUSE HOLISTICALLY

So many of us as Black women leaders in faith-based communities are experiencing the devastation of narcissistic abuse.

Yet, we are taught to suffer in silence and push through with perpetually overscheduled lives that leave us little time for self-care much less deep healing.

Still, we rise. Until we can’t any longer.

Just like Donna*, whose journey with emotional abuse and trauma took its toll on her physical body literally. Donna sat in tears on the edge of my session table as she quietly announced, “Kay, the doctors say I will need dialysis and I’m barely 63.”

Still, we rise. Until we can’t any longer.

The relentless emotional stress of living with a narcissistically abusive husband, combined with doctors giving her incorrect medications, resulted in near stage 5 kidney failure. She was looking at the possibility of living the rest of her life on dialysis or facing a kidney transplant.

As if that were not enough, she was also living with the constant and agonizing pain of a spine that was horrifically damaged from four car wrecks and multiple surgeries.

Adding to all of that was anxiety, depression and a roller coaster of feelings that were keeping her up at night and not allowing her to heal.

Incorrect medications prescribed by doctors, not only exacerbated health disparities that many Black women face when they seek medical help, but it also worsened her kidney failure, anxiety, and depression.

Teaming with Minister Sonya Hosey, we invited Donna into the “Get Your Mojo Back” scholarship program that provides participants with a powerful combination of holistic healing tools including prayer, herbs, consultations with a multi-disciplinarian team, and energy medicine resets.

Within 90 days, Donna was able to:

• Reverse near Stage 5 kidney disease back to Stage 3 which means she is now able to live life without being tied to a dialysis machine or impending kidney transplant surgery.�

• Stabilize her emotions with mindfulness tools and the support of a curated, sisterhood circle so that she has a place to share and process feelings deeply.

• Reduce inflammation in her body so that she could stop taking prescription pain medications.

As Donna shared, “We must start looking at the relationship between our mental health and what is happening in our bodies—and how that impacts our spiritual development. Thanks to these whole health resources, I can now lead with confidence as a First Lady and empower other women to heal and recover.”

While the Get Your Mojo Back program has been honored to team with Minister Sonya Hosey to receive a first round of funding from the prestigious Hogg Foundation grant awarded to Minister Hosey’s Moore 4 Sisters Ministries in 2023, there is still so much to be done to create awareness and support of the importance of integrating holistic methods to heal emotional trauma so that the body and soul can also recover most fully.

*Donna’s name is changed to protect her privacy.

Kay Hutchinson is the CEO of Aiki Healing with over 20 years clinical experience healing the damage of narcissistic abuse with energy medicine and herbs. To support the Get Your Mojo Back scholarship fund, visit https://ironsharpensiron4mysisters.com/donate/

MARY’S TIPS AND IDEAS

Repot to Save Plants

Make your beautiful flowers last by repotting here are tips to help you!

The Do's and Don'ts of Repotting Plants

1. Don't Size Down (Usually) ...

2. Don't Repot Into A Huge Container. ...

3. DON'T Leave Any Air In The Soil. ...

4. DON'T Fertilize right after repotting. ...

5. DO Repot in the spring or summer. ...

6. DO Repot in the Same or Slightly Bigger Container. ...

7. Do Consider Separating If Necessary. ...

8. Do Use Fresh Potting Soil.

Spring is Here!

Getting ready for Mothers Day shopping

Top 8 Tips for Staying Safe and Secure Online

• Don't click on links from people you don't know:

• Create safe and secure passwords: ...

• Change your passwords periodically: ...

• Lock down your wi-fi: ...

• Be careful with social media sharing: ...

• Secure your mobile devices: ...

• Download from trusted sources: ...

• Keep your devices up to date:

Courtesy of plant blogger

Courtesy of dft communications

Mary Linnen, Editor

Mother’s Day Snack Pack

There are so many gift choices to select for your Mother. The goal is to get her something she will really like. Do you know your Moms favorite snacks? You are already winning, for a great gift!

Tips for Building a Great Snack Basket

1. Plan ahead, if possible. ...

2. Think outside the basket....

3. Build up your base. ...

4. Select a variety of gift items in size and texture.

5. Put your tall items in the back. ...

6. Keep your items secured.

7. Put something inside glass jars, mugs or beverage containers. ...

This can be a large or small basket depending on how much you want to put in your basket. After placing the items and making them secure, use clear cellophane wrapping paper to dress up your finished gift.

Before We Go ...

5 things to remember about Mental Health Awareness Month

1. Mental Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity to challenge stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental illness. It's crucial to remember that mental health is a vital component of overall well-being, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

2. Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a platform to educate the public about the prevalence of mental health conditions, their signs and symptoms, and available resources for support and treatment. Increasing awareness reduces barriers to seeking help and encourages early intervention.

3. Access to mental health care remains a significant challenge for many individuals and communities. It's important to advocate for policies and initiatives that improve access to affordable, culturally competent mental health services for all.

4. Building supportive communities is essential for promoting mental health and well-being. Mental Health

Awareness Month encourages individuals and organizations to create safe spaces for open dialogue, support groups, and community events that promote understanding, empathy, and solidarity.

5.Mental Health Awareness

Month serves as a reminder to prioritize self-care and wellness practices in our daily lives. Taking time to prioritize our mental health through activities such as mindfulness, exercise, healthy relationships, and seeking professional support when needed contributes to overall well-being.

By keeping these key points in mind, we can work together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and foster a culture of compassion and support for mental health throughout the year, not just during Mental Health Awareness Month.