Dealing with microaggressions has become a daily reality for me. What are some effective ways to respond and protect my mental health?
(Roman Koester / Unsplash)
I have found that talking about these microaggressions openly around friends who are BIPOC has helped me in navigating that sphere. My friends who share similar stories and situations, not only acknowledge my feelings, but make me feel validated for feeling the way that I do. It is common for my mind to overthink or do a double take if I hear a questionable comment, so having a space to share and get these feelings off my chest relieves some of that mental capacity. Additionally, I’m not known for being shy or nonchalant, so speaking up in these situations with a simple “What do you mean?” or having these individuals explain themselves, is a subtle enough comment that it doesn’t come off rude. However, being able to differentiate those with bias and ignorance, rather than those with malicious intent has really helped me control my emotions in those situations as well.
Related Questions
