The Queer Village.
Finding Queer-Affirming Mental Health Support: A guide for QPOC Abroad
A Love Letter to Queer Africans
Talking to people in your life about sexuality
Sex & Relationships after Sexual Trauma
TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual trauma, non-consensual actions
Healing after sexual trauma is a deeply personal and challenging journey. This blog explores the complexities of reconnecting with your body and mind after such experiences.
Understanding Sexual Trauma
Sexual trauma includes any actions that violate your sexual boundaries without consent, causing overwhelming stress to your nervous system. It encompasses a wide range of experiences, from jokes and gestures to non-consensual touch and physical violence.
Navigating the Impact
The effects of trauma can persist for years, impacting trust, intimacy, appetite, sleep, and emotional well-being. Understanding and addressing these impacts is crucial for healing.
Exploring Relationships and Sex Again
Reclaiming intimacy and trust involves patience, self-compassion, and sometimes professional support. Our series provides insights and tips for moving forward at your own pace, recognizing triggers, and practicing self-care.
For immediate support, reach out to:
Cipla 24hr Mental Health Helpline: 0800 456 789
Lifeline South Africa: 0861 322 322
Akeso Psychiatric Response Unit: 0861 435 787
Am I Queer?
Coming Out Later in Life: Embracing Identity and Finding Support
Are you grappling with your sexual or gender identity later in life? You're not alone. Many face the daunting, confusing, yet ultimately rewarding process of coming out at a more mature age. Contrary to media portrayals, coming out is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey, starting with the most crucial step: coming out to yourself.
Sitting with Solitude
Spending time alone is a crucial aspect of self-care and personal development. It offers the opportunity for introspection, self-discovery, and emotional recharge. Alone time allows us to reconnect with our thoughts, feelings, and desires, fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves. Embracing solitary moments empowers individuals to cultivate a strong sense of independence and self-fulfillment. Whether through meditation, hobbies, or quiet reflection, prioritizing time alone is an essential practice for holistic well-being.
New Year, Intentional You!
How to make an intentional start to this year that doesn’t rely on the old adage “New Year New Me”, because who actually becomes an entirely new version of themselves at this arbitrary start of a calendar year?
Your family holiday survival guide
The holidays are coming up, and they might just be coming with some anxiety and exhaustion about engaging with family. Let’s talk about how to cope with your mental health while managing family interactions!
Letting go of Shame & the Desire to Fit In
Because I felt shame, I couldn’t attribute mistakes to being just that, a mistake, they instead felt like an attack on my personhood. I couldn’t allow my shortcomings to be an opportunity for growth.
The Exhausting Reality of being Black & Queer
It's extremely exhausting trying to figure out where you fit in. It's even more exhausting trying to figure out whether or not you need to hide or downplay a part of yourself; for safety, for comfort, or something else entirely.
Sexual Boundaries: The Uncomfortable Truth
So, in an effort to allow people to see mental health professionals and educators as humans and…regular. Here I am, being a complex human, and I guess for the first time sharing what brought me to Sexuality education work.
Is it me? Or is it Imposter Syndrome?
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you were questioning your capacity? Your expertise or experience? Your “enough-ness”?