On this week’s episode of The Black Woman’s Confidant, Dr. Nicole addresses a listener’s concern about being perceived as “meaner” since beginning their trauma healing journey. Drawing on her expertise as a psychiatrist, Dr. Nicole explores the underlying reasons for this shift in perception among those around you and offers guidance on managing this newfound assertiveness.

Key Points

0:22 A quick catch up

2:49 Answering a listener’s question

3:38 Being more assertive

4:10 Looking at depression

4:40 Not having the energy to fight

5:28 Coming out of the depression

6:17 Asserting and standing up for yourself

6:35 Looking at PTSD

7:00 Conflict can bring up trauma

8:00 Avoiding the hard conversations

9:10 Not participating in decision making

10:18 Finding your voice

11:00 Others can benefit from your passiveness

12:00 Implementing boundaries can cause conflict

12:45 When you stop over explaining yourself 

13:57 When you start enforcing your boundaries

14:38 Learning to say no

14:57 Prioritizing yourself

15:30 Voicing your wants and needs

16:00 Taking some responsibility

16:50 Gaining clarity

17:45 Keeping good relationships

18:44 Sometimes we go too far

19:18 You can over correct

19:40 A therapist can offer a different perspective

20:35 Power can be intoxicating

21:00 You still have to give a bit

22:15 Reaching new levels

22:54 Working through the trauma not getting over it

23:40 Relationships will get stronger

24:24 We need people

24:58 Work with professionals

25:32 Conclusion

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