🕒 Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes Article Summary: What happens when you’re the first in your family or culture to name trauma , seek therapy, or talk about mental health out loud? This post explores the: emotional labor isolation resilience of being a cycle-breaker, especially for those living with mental illness  In honor of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month , we also look at how cultural stigma adds weight to the healing journey, and how healing anyway is a radical act. I didn’t realize I was “going first.” I just knew I couldn’t keep going like this. When I first started confronting my mental health struggles, I felt like I was betraying something sacred. My family never talked about emotions, at least, not the hard ones. We swallowed grief and masked pain with strength. Therapy was something “other people” did. I didn’t have the words for what I was carrying, but I knew I couldn’t keep carrying it silently. At first, I felt proud. I was choosing healing, choosing ...

"The Untold Side" 2025 Summer/Quarterly Edition “The workplace often rewards the very behaviors that hide our suffering.” This investigative feature focuses on burnout and high-functioning depression in the workplace, a topic that aligns closely with The Untold Side's mission . These experiences are often: misunderstood minimized completely overlooked This can occur in professional environments where external productivity can mask deep internal struggles.  High-functioning depression doesn’t always “look like” depression, which makes it easier for both individuals and systems to ignore it, and harder for people to ask for help. By exploring how the pressure to perform can silence mental health challenges, especially among survivors and those in recovery, this feature highlights the critical gaps in how workplaces respond to emotional well-being . It asks difficult questions about what we reward, what we miss, and who gets left behind in conversations about wellness. Thes...

Mental Health Fact 📊 🗣️ July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the unique mental health challenges faced by BIPOC communities and advocate for more culturally competent care. Minority communities face unique barriers to mental health care, including stigma, cultural misunderstandings, and a lack of access to culturally competent providers. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: ➡️ Only 31% of Hispanic adults and 32% of Black adults with mental illness receive treatment, compared to 48% of White adults. (Source: MentalHealth.gov ) 💡 Why It Matters: This treatment gap shows how systemic inequality impacts care. Raising awareness reduces stigma and helps advocate for inclusive, equitable mental health services. Thank you for stopping by! Until next time, remember that you are not alone in your feelings or experiences. I've got your back! For more updates, click  here . 📚 For more information on this week's fact, vis...

Mental Health Recovery Tip of the Week: Try “emotional micro-adventures.” When feelings get heavy, step outside your usual routine: Take a different route on a walk 🚶‍♀️ Explore a new playlist 🎶 Write a one-sentence story ✍️ about your current mood These small, mindful shifts can spark new perspectives and gently reset your emotional landscape. Why It Matters ✨ Routine can sometimes trap us in the same emotional patterns. Micro-adventures  provide a simple and creative way to interrupt stress and invite curiosity, helping you reconnect with yourself in fresh and healing ways. Thank you for stopping by! Until next time, remember that you are not alone in your feelings or experiences. I've got your back! For more updates, click  here . Disclaimer : The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. If you are struggling, seeking help from a licensed mental health professional who can offer personali...

Read Time:  6-7 Minutes Summary: Healing from trauma often pressures people to build emotional armor, but true recovery invites us back into emotional nuance :  being soft and strong loving and discerning open and protective, all without apology This post explores how reclaiming softness can deepen resilience and self-trust for those living with mental illness. Healing in the Gray: The Power of Complex Emotions As early as childhood, I was told I was “too sensitive.” Being soft was equated with being weak, overly emotional, or vulnerable in ways that made me unsafe. I pushed down my feelings, built walls, and tried to become harder to protect myself. But over time, I realized this hard shell wasn’t healing; it was a survival strategy that came at a cost. Now, I’m learning what it means to be soft without apology. It means embracing emotional complexity: feeling deeply without shame setting boundaries without guilt loving without losing myself It means I don’t have to shrink or...

Summary Emotional alexithymia, a difficulty identifying and describing emotions, is a lesser-known but critical factor in men’s mental health , especially among those living with trauma and mental illness.  This post unpacks the science behind emotional alexithymia, its connection to trauma and socialization, and how healing begins with learning to recognize and name emotions. My Own Struggle to Name What I Feel For much of my life, I felt like I was swimming in emotional fog. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was. When people asked me how I felt: I often answered with vague words like “fine” or “okay,” even when my insides churned with something more complicated.  I thought maybe I was just closed off or didn’t care enough, but over time, I realized it was harder than that.  It was as if my mind had lost the words to name my feelings. So, what does this have to do with men's mental health? Well, watching men around me, family, frie...