The effects of patriarchy & capitalism: Promoting individual & collective healing

In this episode, I speak with Laura Lu (@themindhealthspot) about patriarchy and capitalism and the ways in which we are all affected by these systems as well as concrete actions we can take to heal from their harmful effects. We highlight several core problems that we have observed in ourselves, loved ones, clients, and communities stemming from these systems and share possible tools and strategies to not only promote individual and collective healing, but also to deconstruct, dismantle, and rail against these systems, from the inside out. Some of the messages and ideals that we often internalize from these systems and that get reinforced by them that we address in the episode include 1) narrow definitions of worth; 2) an over-emphasis on appearance and unrealistic definitions of beauty; 3) negative comparisons & hierarchy/competition; 4) harmful stereotypes; 5) not investing in ourselves or our communities because we feel like we aren’t good enough; 6) fitting into prescribed molds, values, or mores rather than speaking our truth and being who we really are; 7) imposter syndrome; 8) ignoring intuition; 9) suppressing emotion and invalidating our feelings; 10) not observing limits or tending to our own needs; 11) self-blame; 12) perfectionism; and 13) productivity.

You can connect more with Laura via her main instagram account @themindhealthspot(https://www.instagram.com/themindhealthspot/) as well as an Instagram account she co-moderates that is dedicated to the intersection of social justice and mental health @thealliedminds.co (https://www.instagram.com/thealliedminds.co/).

About Laura: Laura is a graduate student studying clinical psychology in San Francisco, California, and currently resides in Vancouver, Canada. She is originally from Taiwan and immigrated to Canada at a young age. She graduated from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada in 2017 and has since worked in research settings in infant language development, bilingualism, and ADHD. She has also worked in clinical settings in ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and patients with HIV/AIDS. Last year, her practicum was at a clinic where she worked with clients with a variety of mental health challenges, including but not limited to: depression, anxiety, cultural identity, agoraphobia, panic disorder, ADHD, suicidality, body image and relationship issues. This year, she is an intern at a community mental health clinic working with clients with anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, parenting challenges, sensory processing disorders, OCD, gender identity transitions, and stress. She also facilitates group therapy for trauma survivors of domestic violence.

Due to both her personal, academic, and professional experiences, Laura is passionate about incorporating a culturally-sensitive lens on mental health. Right now, Laura is conducting research looking at the effects of adult and child trauma, trauma treatments, and intergenerational trauma (trauma that is passed down from generation to generation). Laura is dedicated to mental health advocacy, posts about mental wellness tips and musings on Instagram, and is a guest speaker for a variety of workshops on mental health. Laura is committed to helping others thrive in mental wellness through tools such as mindfulness, grounding, self-compassion, somatic attunement, and exploring feelings.

For more information, tools, and strategies, please follow @drfoynes on Instagram.

My FREE 4-part video series called “The Science & Soul of Building Resilience” can be found here(https://unique-trader-1040.ck.page/0a3a623dbd). This series is meant to help you enhance key pillars of resilience that can help us all navigate inevitable life stress with more ease and skill. I chose to focus on these specific pillars of resilience because they can help us address some of the most common struggles I see in my clients – anxiety, self-doubt, lack of direction or sense of self, disconnection from larger meaning & purpose, and self-criticism. Similar to the spirit of this podcast, this series integrates science-backed strategies from psychology with tools from ancient wisdom like yoga and meditation, to present skills over the course of this series that can be used and integrated into daily life.I hope you check it out and please feel share it with others as you feel inspired.

Please note that the information provided in this episode does not constitute professional advice or therapy, mental health services, or health care services, and is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional advice or services. If you are struggling with a mental health crisis or need immediate assistance, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.