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OP-ED: Tamar Braxton is preparing. Her decision is to redefine sexual health for black women

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OP-ED: Tamar Braxton is preparing. Her decision is to redefine sexual health for black women

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Over the past week, my inbox and DM have been flooded with messages marking me in Tamar Braxton posts revealing that it is taking preparation. From Instagram to Facebook, individuals who know me and my support quickly said: “It made me think about you.”

To be honest, I wasn’t surprised. I used to be (and beyond it) preparing since 2018, and for many in my community I’m the one black woman who knows who she takes it. Add the undeniable fact that I’m talking about it openly and I actually have turn out to be a rare sort of unicorn. Let’s discuss it: what is preparation and why revealing Tamara’s information matters?

Prep is a drugs taken as a each day pill, or every two months. In the case of consistent use, this is up to 99% effective in stopping HIV. However, myths are still associated around who can and may prepare. Some versions are usually not yet approved for use by individuals with some kinds of anatomy, resembling those that receive vaginal sex, which led to the inaccurate assumption that prep is not for women in any respect. It’s just not true.

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PREP is available for quite a lot of women – no matter identity or anatomy – and could be a vital tool in our set of sexual health tools. Organizations resembling the Black Women’s Imperative (BWHI) have long recognized the urgent need to inform and strengthen the position of our communities. Through initiatives resembling “I am possible HIV”, BWHI makes sure that black women will learn their options and have access to care that confirms their autonomy.

The revelation of Tamar disrupts the outdated assumptions that preparation is only for men having sex with men or individuals who “here are here.” It casts a stigma that claims that if a girl makes preparation, she should have a considerable amount of sex or live recklessly.

But here is the reality: women who saved their marriage acquired HIV. Women with one partner. Married women. Women living in small towns, not only Atlanta. HIV doesn’t discriminate against the postal code, relationship status or sexual history.

As a previously married woman again entering the dating stage, Tamar takes control of her sexual health in a world that also embarrasses black women for it. It’s brave. And this is vital.

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And nothing, say it’s aloud: black women deserve sex that is joyful, focused on pleasure and guarded. Prep helps to allow. It allows us to experience intimacy with fewer fears, regaining our role as lively participants as a substitute of passive ships navigating someone’s selections.

The numbers don’t lie. Of the 1.2 million people living with HIV within the US, 40% are black. Black women constitute over half of all latest HIV diagnoses amongst women. And although the general HIV rates don’t grow, the load for black communities stays heavy.

That is why Tamara’s disclosure was revealed. It opens the door in order that more of us lead real, refined conversations about sexual health. But he cannot stop here.

At the identical time, we’re within the face of threats that expose all this progress. The Trump administration proposed to eliminate the HIV CDC prevention department under the guise of reduced costs. But let’s be clear – there is nothing economical in ignoring prevention. Much dearer HIV treatment is all life than stopping it above all.

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So yes, I’m still preparing. And yes, Tamar jogged my memory this week that we’d not find life or partners we would like, hiding in fear. We have to protect ourselves, tell one another and name what we deserve.

Black women deserve access. We deserve care. We really deserve. And we deserve joy. Prep is one tool that might help us with all this.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

The new Orlean “Big Steppe” goes 2 million steps

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Kwame Terra, a resident of Nowy Orlean, set a record, making amazing 2 million steps inside 30 days, he informed.

Last month, Terra had a median of 66,667 steps a day, setting an unofficial world record mentioned within the International Book of Records. Known as “The Big Stepper”, he estimates that he walked 35 miles a day.

Terra isn’t any stranger to burdensome actions. He led Cross Country to the University of Xavier and is currently training in HBCU.

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The Terry company serves a bigger mission. As the founder and general director of Behr Health, he initiated this challenge to lift awareness of health differences in black communities and finance the extension of his initiatives focused on health.

His goal is to lift $ 2 million. One dollar for every step is used to support the event of the Behr Health application and other related programs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mksai —yudm

The Behr Health application is aimed toward strengthening the position of individuals by ensuring a customized health result, combining users with culturally competent healthcare providers and offering resources tailored to the particular needs of black communities.

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This initiative concerns critical problems, corresponding to lower life expectancy, higher indicators of chronic diseases and limited access to high -quality healthcare amongst black Americans.

Terra’s journey drew the eye and support of assorted organizations and folks who recognize the importance of coping with health unevenness. His commitment to this reason is an example of how personal challenges might be used to extend social changes and Improve the well -being of the community. Terra believes that the physical challenge was price trouble since it helps in personal development.

(*2*) said Terra.

For those curious about supporting Terry’s mission or discover more about Behr Health, additional information and donation options can be found on the official Gofundme.

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(Tagstranslate) City of New Orleans (T) Walking Record (T) Kwame Terra (T) Health

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Bibliotherapy is a biological renewal practice that you didn’t know you need

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Overlooked by the mainstream of bibliotherapy culture is ready for return – and Emely, rumbleLCSW, turns the page.

The licensed therapist has a latest book that draws on her personal and skilled experience to look at how literature can support mental health. But what exactly is bibliotherapy?

“Practice of bibliotherapy is a multi -faceted and complex mix of approaches and interventions operating under a wide banner of using books for treatment”, based on. Think about how about literature, from the books you read to poetry that will help you satisfy your emotional need. Rumble, which was initially not conversant in bibliotherapy – or other types of art therapy – made her while studying abroad in England during training to grow to be a therapist. “There are people who are trained in this method who understand how to match the book and how to prescribe literature to support emotional problems,” he explains. Seeing this primary -hand, she expanded her understanding of what clinical practice may very well be.

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“It was stunning. I was like, I need more.”

Bibliotherapy is a biological renewal practice that you didn't know you need
Thanks to the kindness of Emely Rumble

She also found inspiration within the heritage of black librarians who developed the flexibility to read in black and brown communities, including Sara (Sadie) Marie Johnson Peterson Delaney– Inhom, he browns with reverence “the godmother of bibliotherapy.”

Thanks to those experiences, Rumble believed that bibliotherapy can offer real support for many who feel emotionally overwhelmed.

“We are so exhausted that we didn’t really think or think,” he says. “So much bibliotherapy – and what makes it therapeutic – it is the ability to practice mental hygiene. Sit and think about our thoughts. Really pay attention to what we think, interrogate it and ask: do I really think? Do I really feel?”

For people caught at a relentless pace of on a regular basis life, he can still help with the grounding of the body and mind. “The somatic piece of bibliotherapy – which attracts us back to our bodies – is also a very important part of this,” explains Rumble. “Reading us slows us down. It helps us sit with language, think about language, list things and be precise and specific.” This form of specificity, notes, is particularly worthwhile to black patients who are sometimes misunderstood due to insufficient representation in the sector of mental healthcultural mark and Systemic bias.

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Bibliotherapy is a biological renewal practice that you didn't know you need
Simon & Schuster

Rumble believes that words can bring the clarity of our identity and emotions.
“What we have to say, who we are, what we feel and what we think – all this can be crystallized through the language,” he says. “Language is the whole lot in terms of communicating our experiences. But sometimes we do not have access to language – especially in terms of trauma. It can fragment the mind, our thoughts, and even me.

And through the language, based on Rumble, we also can construct a deeper understanding of one another, despite the differences.

“Not every reader comes to every text equally,” he says, quoting Tahisi Coates.
“We all come to the text based on our own experienced experiences. Reading various stories – experiences that are not our own – they can change our opinion. It expands our perspective. And for me as a therapist, especially a decolonic therapist, this is the heart of my work.”


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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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There is a wild season in Australia. Here’s how to keep safety and avoid poisoning

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Many Australian countries, including New southern WalesIN Victoria AND South Australia In recent weeks, they’ve issued warnings in regards to the risk of eating wild mushrooms.

Mushrooms normally grow in cooler and wetter times. Although these conditions are present in some parts of Australia for many of the yr, in many parts of the country the expansion of fungi is visible at the moment (autumn and early winter).

Wild mushrooms might be easily accessible in public spaces, including parks, nature strips and forests. They are also found in people’s gardens.

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Wild mushrooms attract attention for a lot of reasons, including in a latest or unexpected location, their interesting colours and shapes, and sometimes because they appear similar to edible varieties.

So what do you would like to know in regards to the risk of consuming wild mushrooms? And what is one of the simplest ways to maintain safety?

Threat to the health of consuming wild mushrooms

Eating toxic mushrooms can have a number of influence on people. The response may rely upon the person, but mainly is determined by the variety of fungus.

The commonest consequences are the digestive tract, for instance nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Less often people can experience drowsiness, confusion or vision, including hallucinations.

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Fortunately, most individuals experiencing these reactions will fully get better when their body eliminates toxins.

But some people suffer from serious poisoning that requires admission to the hospital. And eating some high -risk mushrooms could cause everlasting damage to essential organs, resembling liver or kidneys, and even death.

These effects occurred while eating wild mushrooms in Australia and even consumption A single mushroom of death () might be fatal.

was more and more detected in Victoria and Australian territory of the capital In recent years. It is also known that it exists in Tasmania AND ONAnd recently he was Found in NSW.

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It is possible that death mushrooms are someplace else in Australia, but we just have not seen them yet.

The incidents are growing

Last alerts with NSW AND ON Show the annual variety of connections with the poison information centers about fungal poisoning.

IN NSW For example Poison Information Center He responded to 363 connections in 2024 in relation to exposure to wild mushrooms in the NSW and the act, which is a rise of 26% compared to 2023.

Moreover, it requires a higher percentage of cases referral to the hospital.

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About half of the connections with the poison information centers concern the exhibition amongst babies under the age of 5. While most youngsters had no symptoms, this variety of connections about young children is still disturbing. Many of those children required assessment and monitoring in the hospital.

Mushrooms with a death cap are extremely dangerous.
Janny2/Shutterstock

Many connections with poison information centers also apply to teenagers and adults who feed and eat wild mushrooms. Some devour mushrooms as food, while others are in search of their hallucinogenic effects. This group is normally symptomatic after they contact the poison information center, and lots of them require hospital treatment.

Adults normally have heavier symptoms because they devour greater than children. Most adults who contact information centers with symptoms have eaten wild mushrooms that were feeding beyond a tour with a guide with an authority.

Not all cases of mushroom poisoning are notified of the poison information center, so it is very likely that the variety of cases represents a significant underestimation of the particular variety of exposure and poisoning.

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All this implies that we might have more News from public health Around the risks of wild mushrooms.

Some suggestions for avoiding poisoning

There is no easy way to discover if the wild mushroom is edible or poisonous, so we advise people before feeding and eating, Wild mushrooms.

Perhaps outside Organized trip with an authorityThe only mushrooms that folks should eat are people purchased in a reputable supermarket, food or market.

Wild mushrooms can appear in your garden day-to-day and Small children study their environment By touching and putting things into the mouth. So let’s remove wild mushrooms from the areas where young children play. Wear gloves and reject mushrooms in trash bins to the landfill.

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Some web sites resembling InaturalistLet people send photos of wild mushrooms in order that experts might help discover them. However, the standard of photos can affect the expert’s ability to properly discover fungal species.

If you propose to use such a platform, consider consider Taking pictures From many angles, showing the upper a part of the hat, under the attachment, stem, the scale of the fungus and the trees that were found nearby.

Studies suggested some applications might not be credible independently to discover mushrooms.

If you choose to eat wild mushrooms and also take a lot of photos, keep samples. If you or another person get sick, mycologist (mushroom expert) can discover the fungus consumed. Knowledge of mushroom species might help determine which treatments are required in the event that they exist.

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Finally, notice that mushrooms can’t be detoxified. Washing, peelingIN cooking or drying The fungus doesn’t deactivate or remove toxins.

Who to call if you happen to are apprehensive

If you or someone you understand, develops any symptoms from eating a wild mushroom, contact the poison information center immediately at 13 11 26 to get advice. This is a national phone number that can direct you to the closest poison information center, 24 hours a day.

Even if a child or another person has no symptoms after eating a potentially poisonous mushroom, call before the event of symptoms. Symptoms may occur Many hours to present With the undeniable fact that being asymptomatic is not necessarily calming.

In emergency, for instance seizures, fall or unconsciousness, call 000.

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This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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