Reclaiming Wellness (cont’d) workshops, trainings, community events and mentorship pairings as well as partners with religious leaders, “[Social media] makes self care and wellness seem like stylists and barbers to normalize conversations about this easy thing, and while those things can be part of self care, that is not getting to the core of what it is,” mental health within the community. she said. Cammack, whose goal for the organization is to “developresources around mental health and wellness from While Brabham believes many social media pages foa black perspective”, believes that reclaiming wellness cusing on wellness are meant to help others, there’s still can mean setting strict boundaries with yourself and a few that create content that isn’t beneficial. others--even if it upsets those around you. “I feel like there are some people who do try to make “When you start to do your healing journey, the people an impact and try to find different resources for people who have benefited from you not having those bound- within not only our community but in different comaries are not going to like it. You have to re-educate munities to better our mental health. I do feel like there are some things that people post…it’s not really there to people on how to interact with you,” Cammack said. help,” Brabham. Brabham, who struggled with learning to set boundarDespite this, reclaiming wellness is a continuous jouries, echoes the same sentiment. ney with no set destination. It means practicing com“I have been someone who has struggled with it for so passion and setting boundaries even if it means severlong,” she said. “It sounds harsh in some situations, but ing ties with those around you. Within a social media you have to say no in a situation, especially where you environment that breeds comparison, envy, and stress, know this is going to override your stress levels, or put reclaiming wellness doesn’t just mean reclaiming time. you in a position where they’re taking advantage of It means reclaiming your energy and focusing on what brings you happiness, wholeness, and fulfillment in your peace and emotional well being.” your life. Both Cammack and Brabham use social media to increase brand awareness, but agree that social media can “Even when you get to what you think might be the goal, there’s still always work to be done and giving take a toll on one’s mental health. yourself grace in the process. Healing is not about judgCammack believes that social media, although filled ment. It’s not going to be perfect. It’s not going to be with authentic content that can inspire others, can be easy, but you have to think about if I’m coming out a misleading and oftentimes not based on facts. She urg- better person on the other side, then it’s definitely worth es those who look to social media to start their well- those things.” Cammack said. ness journey to “vet the source” and acknowledges that while massages, spa days, and trips are nice, it’s not what wellness is about.
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