Some people were looking forward to 2020, but this year seemed to come with a lot of chaos and confusion. Within the past few months, the nation has not only suffered from a global pandemic, but now many people across the country are rioting, protesting, and looting in an effort to end police brutality following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, an African-American man, died on Memorial Day in Minneapolis after a white police officer handcuffed and pinned him to the ground and pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes.
On Monday, June 1, Dr. Jeff Gardere, a former “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” recurring guest and a frequent contributor on CNN and HLN, revealed a few tips to Atlanta Black Star in an exclusive interview about helping people who are suffering from anxiety and anger issues in response to the demonstrations roiling the nation in protest against racial iniquities in the criminal justice system.
Dr. Jeff, who also is known as “America’s Psychologist,” explained that there are a few healthy tricks that people can use to help them cope with their anger.
Embrace Your Feelings
“Well, I think it’s very important that they not internalize how they feel and openly process that. They can continue that by talking to family, friends, neighbors. And they can agree and agree to disagree.”
Take Care of Yourself
“It’s important that they take care of themselves because they’re still reeling from COVID-19 with regard to being disproportionately affected as people of color, Black and brown, Latinos, and so on, under represented minorities. So that means getting the proper amount of rest, it means getting the proper amount of meals, and it means having a schedule for themselves.”
Stay in Contact with Other People
“Stay on social media with regard to reaching out to new people, reaching out to old people, and when I say old people, meaning the people that they’ve known for a while, but as well as seniors in talking with them and putting out as much good will as possible.”
Seek Out Trained Mental Health Professionals. (This is the most important step)
“If they feel that they can’t get over the feelings of anger or sadness with regards to what’s happening with unrest in the nation based around police shootings and deaths of unarmed black people, it’s important that they utilize telemedicine, telepsychiatry.”
