Hey smarticle particles 💡 — in this deeply personal episode, I’m opening up about a diagnosis I didn’t see coming: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Recorded in April 2025 but shared now because… life has been lifing. Still, this conversation matters—especially before another winter sets in. 🌧️✨ After months of feeling foggy and fatigued, I finally realized my shift in energy wasn't just a fluke. A conversation with my therapist revealed something I had joked about for years… Seasonal Depression is real, and it’s something I’ve been living with quietly. The spring sunshine helped lift the fog—and with it came clarity, motivation, and the desire to speak on this journey.📖 In this episode, we talk honestly about:What Seasonal Affective Disorder feels likeWhy mental health struggles often go unnoticedHow weather impacts mood & energySimple grounding practices (breathwork, sunlight, hydration ☀️💧🌱)Faith when God feels silentWorship as healing (Song of the Day: “I Understand” by Smokie Norful)🙏 Whether you’re someone who quietly suffers in the colder months or you’re watching a loved one struggle, this episode brings both understanding and hope. It's a reminder that even in our darkest seasons, God sees us—even when we can’t feel Him.💌 If anything in this episode resonates, please comment or DM me. You are not alone, and you never have to face SAD without support. Let’s talk next steps together.

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🎙️ Why did I name my podcast The Smart Black Girl? Because for most of my life, that’s who I was—the smart one. But what happens when that identity gets challenged?

🧠 From childhood, I was celebrated for my intelligence. My family expected me to use my brain to create a better future. I obsessed over perfect grades, corrected my teachers, and devoured books, imagining myself as the smart character in every story. But then, life threw me a curveball…

🏫 A Shift in Identity Moving from a predominantly Black school to a mostly white one, I suddenly became not just the smart girl but the smart Black girl.

🏙️ The Next Move: Bias & Fear Transferring to a majority-Black high school (nicknamed the fight school), I feared I wouldn’t fit in. I had developed biases about my own community and even begged to go elsewhere. But instead of fear, I found some of the best people I’d ever meet.

🎓 College Changed Everything In a sea of accomplished Black women, I was no longer the smart Black girl. I was just average. As a first-generation college student, I had no blueprint for success—no mentors, no guide on balancing school, work, and social life. I felt lost.

🔄 Comparison is a Thief I isolated myself, convinced that everyone else had life figured out while I struggled. My confidence shattered. If I wasn’t the smart Black girl, then who was I?

✨ Rebuilding My Identity That’s how The Smart Black Girl Podcast was born. This is my diary—a space where I rediscover myself and bring you along for the ride.

💬 So, my smarticle particles, what identity shaped you? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

#SmartBlackGirl #IdentityCrisis #BlackExcellence #SelfDiscovery #Podcast