HEAL AND
HELP OTHERS HEAL
You're not alone.
Traumatic stress has become an unwanted but unfortunately regular part of life in oppressed, underserved communities, hurting us and those we care about.
Not only does violence directly impact our lives and peace of mind, so do its causes like poverty, ongoing racism and systemic oppression.
If you feel always on-go, but can’t focus. Or you’re always tired, but can’t get a good night’s sleep. If you feel you need to hide that you’re hurting, because you might be misunderstood, you’re not alone.
There are others who feel the same in dealing with traumatic stress, but we’re also healing and helping others heal through self-led pathways.
Take one big breath when you feel stressed.
Inhale deep for three seconds, hold it, and exhale. Check out apps to help.
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Explore ways to find your center through meditation, yoga, prayer etc.
Close your eyes, relax your shoulders and restore your spirit. Find free online yoga tutorials from Transformation Yoga Project.
Cycling reduces stress hormones and naturally increases feel-good serotonin levels.
Join a community at a local Soul Cycle or find a bike trail near you.
Wind sprints help clear your mind of stress.
Try running the track or playing fast-paced sports like basketball and soccer to relieve your anxieties. Like running in groups? Here’s a list of local clubs.
Find out how long you should be sleeping at night for a healthier tomorrow.
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Destress with fresh air breaks, Meetups, bike rides and more.
Explore different ways to relax.
Walk with a Doc to build support and share stories while fitting in fitness.
Expression is healing.
Poetry, music, art and dance–use your creativity to heal yourself and others. Organizations like Fleischer Art Memorial offer free and low-cost classes.
Let the beats of these HBCU drumlines help relieve your stress.
Release endorphins that make us feel happy.
Local comedy clubs can be affordable. Get some cheap laughs at your local comedy club.
Let your voice heal yourself and others.
Music making can heal.
Get started with free online music courses. Students, contact Rock to the Future about their free Mobile Music Workshops.
Writing can be a therapeutic, powerful way to heal and help others heal.
Find a writing group like those offered by Mighty Writers.
Find your spot in the tech field.
Learn new coding skills online and tap into your creativity.
Plant seeds of hope and healing.
Embracing nature through gardening is a form of self-care. Better your mental health through gardening and do a service to your body through eating natural foods.
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Trauma healing can start with taking care of your body.
Find tasty, healthy options at your local farmers market.
Education + Job Training = Trauma Healing.
Explore opportunities through college, trade school, or certificate programs. The Free Library offers a good starting point to find programs and classes.
Get lost in a great book.
Explore the Free Library of Philadelphia for great reads and great activities for book lovers.
Self-care is not selfish.
Schedule some time for yourself. For the outdoorsy, GirlTrek is a great organization to connect with for self-care nature experiences.
Internalizing your pain and expressing your feelings do not make you weak.
Black Men Heal offers a great resource for Black men and women to heal together.
Check out Happify, a free app with games and activities scientifically designed to help users overcome negative thoughts.
Dealing with loss is difficult, but wounds heal better in the open.
See if one of these guiding resources can help you.
Seek out peer counseling to ease mental health struggles.
For peer-to-peer conversations around mental health, check out Lean on Me and Togetherall.
See how The Colored Girls Museum honors and celebrates Black stories, culture and history.
Hone your ability to support yourself and others through Compassion Training.
Integrate kindness into every interaction, strengthening your well-being and uplifting those around you.
Heal by expressing your feelings.
Download free counseling app Woebot.
Be there for the ones you love.
Learn to recognize signs of depression to support loved ones. Check out resources like Mental Health First Aid Training — Black Girl Health Collective.
The Trevor Project provides a community and resources like counseling for LGBTQIA+ youth.
When the right support group doesn’t exist, help build one.
Use Meetup to create a space for people in the community you want to be a part of.
Make a promise and a commitment to healing from your trauma.
Savor the moments that make you the happiest.
Spend time with people you love and document your experiences to hold onto those memories forever.
Find people who match your energy.
Take advantage of MeetUps and free dating apps to find people who can understand you.
REFORM Alliance is committed to a prison system that properly supports current and former incarcerated people. Support their efforts.
Reset your social media priorities.
Follow pages that uplift and provide daily affirmations like @blackgirlhealthcollective.
Young people who make mistakes are being punished like adults.
Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project works to keep juveniles out of adult prisons.
Stand up for causes you believe in.
Check out Move On and support the changes you want to see.
In between presidential elections, stay active in mayoral, judicial and gubernatorial elections.
Learn more about why every vote matters here.
SEND US YOUR IDEAS
Email your personal favorite tip, resource or event to ourwordsheal@gmail.com or share a post using #OurWordsHeal.
Mind-Body Practices
Breathe
Take one big breath when you feel stressed. Inhale deep for three seconds, hold it, and exhale. Check out apps to help.
Ride
Cycling reduces stress hormones and naturally increases feel-good serotonin levels. Join a community at a local Soul Cycle or find a bike trail near you.
Run
Wind sprints help clear your mind of stress. Try running the track or playing fast-paced sports like basketball and soccer to relieve your anxieties. Like running in groups? Here’s a list of local clubs.
Unwind
Destress with fresh air breaks, Meetups, bike rides and more. Explore different ways to relax.
Center
Explore ways to find your center through meditation, yoga, prayer etc. Close your eyes, relax your shoulders and restore your spirit. Find free online yoga tutorials from Transformation Yoga Project.
Creative Expression
Write
Writing can be a therapeutic, powerful way to heal and help others heal. Find a writing group like those offered by Mighty Writers.
Create
Expression is healing. Poetry, music, art and dance–use your creativity to heal yourself and others. Organizations like Fleischer Art Memorial offer free and low-cost classes.
Play
Music making can heal. Get started with free online music courses. Students, contact Rock to the Future about their free Mobile Music Workshops.
Laugh
Release endorphins that make us feel happy. Local comedy clubs can be affordable. Get some cheap laughs at your local comedy club.
Self-Care & Personal Growth
Self-care
Self-care is not selfish. Schedule some time for yourself. For the outdoorsy, GirlTrek is a great organization to connect with for self-care nature experiences.
Nurture
Trauma healing can start with taking care of your body. Find tasty, healthy options at your local farmers market.
Prep
Education + Job Training = Trauma Healing. Explore opportunities through college, trade school, or certificate programs. The Free Library offers a good starting point to find programs and classes.
Grow
Plant seeds of hope and healing. Embracing nature through gardening is a form of self-care. Better your mental health through gardening and do a service to your body through eating natural foods.
Read
Get lost in a great book. Explore the Free Library of Philadelphia for great reads and great activities for book lovers.
Advance
REFORM Alliance is committed to a prison system that properly supports current and former incarcerated people. Support their efforts.
Mental Health & Emotional Support
Destigmatize
Internalizing your pain and expressing your feelings do not make you weak. Black Men Heal offers a great resource for Black men and women to heal together.
Assist
Be there for the ones you love. Learn to recognize signs of depression to support loved ones. Check out resources like Mental Health First Aid Training — Black Girl Health Collective.
Join
Seek out peer counseling to ease mental health struggles. For peer-to-peer conversations around mental health, check out Lean on Me and Togetherall.
Grieve
Dealing with loss is difficult, but wounds heal better in the open. See if one of these guiding resources can help you.
Strengthen
Hone your ability to support yourself and others through Compassion Training that helps you integrate kindness into every interaction, strengthening your well-being and uplifting those around you.
Connection & Community
Show Up
Join #WearOrange on June 6, 2025, for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and attend events throughout Wear Orange weekend (June 7-8) in Philly. It’s a powerful way to honor those impacted by gun violence and support trauma healing.
Lead
When the right support group doesn’t exist, help build one. Use Meetup to create a space for people in the community you want to be a part of.
Vibe
Find people who match your energy. Take advantage of MeetUps and free dating apps to find people who can understand you.
Relish
Savor the moments that make you the happiest. Spend time with people you love and document your experiences to hold onto those memories forever.
Empowerment & Activism
Advance
REFORM Alliance is committed to a prison system that properly supports current and former incarcerated people. Support their efforts.
Elevate
Check out Happify, a free app with games and activities scientifically designed to help users overcome negative thoughts.
Follow
Reset your social media priorities. Follow pages that uplift and provide daily affirmations like @blackgirlhealthcollective.
Restore
Young people who make mistakes are being punished like adults. Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project works to keep juveniles out of adult prisons.
Lead
When the right support group doesn’t exist, help build one. Use Meetup to create a space for people in the community you want to be a part of.
Vote
In between presidential elections, stay active in mayoral, judicial and gubernatorial elections. Learn more about why every vote matters here.
Empowerment & Activism
Show Up
Join #WearOrange on June 6, 2025, for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and attend events throughout Wear Orange weekend (June 7-8) in Philly. It’s a powerful way to honor those impacted by gun violence and support trauma healing.
Self-care
Self-care is not selfish. Schedule some time for yourself. For the outdoorsy, GirlTrek is a great organization to connect with for self-care nature experiences.
Nurture
Trauma healing can start with taking care of your body. Find tasty, healthy options at your local farmers market.
Release
As we heal from our trauma, we want to get rid of the trauma that can get stored in our mind and body. Check out this guide to free or affordable therapy options.
Breathe
Take one big breath when you feel stressed. Inhale deep for three seconds, hold it, and exhale. Check out apps to help.
Destigmatize
Internalizing your pain and expressing your feelings do not make you weak. Black Men Heal offers a great resource for Black men and women to heal together.
Ride
Cycling reduces stress hormones and naturally increases feel-good serotonin levels. Join a community at a local Soul Cycle or find a bike trail near you.
Advance
REFORM Alliance is committed to a prison system that properly supports current and former incarcerated people. Support their efforts.
Elevate
Check out Happify, a free app with games and activities scientifically designed to help users overcome negative thoughts.
Follow
Reset your social media priorities. Follow pages that uplift and provide daily affirmations like @blackgirlhealthcollective.
Assist
Be there for the ones you love. Learn to recognize signs of depression to support loved ones. Check out resources like Mental Health First Aid Training — Black Girl Health Collective.
Join
Seek out peer counseling to ease mental health struggles. For peer-to-peer conversations around mental health, check out Lean on Me and Togetherall.
Unwind
Destress with fresh air breaks, Meetups, bike rides and more. Explore different ways to relax.
Grieve
Dealing with loss is difficult, but wounds heal better in the open. See if one of these guiding resources can help you.
Restore
Young people who make mistakes are being punished like adults. Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project works to keep juveniles out of adult prisons.
Write
Writing can be a therapeutic, powerful way to heal and help others heal. Find a writing group like those offered by Mighty Writers.
Create
Expression is healing. Poetry, music, art and dance–use your creativity to heal yourself and others. Organizations like Fleischer Art Memorial offer free and low-cost classes.
Lead
When the right support group doesn’t exist, help build one. Use Meetup to create a space for people in the community you want to be a part of.
Prep
Education + Job Training = Trauma Healing. Explore opportunities through college, trade school, or certificate programs. The Free Library offers a good starting point to find programs and classes.
Run
Wind sprints help clear your mind of stress. Try running the track or playing fast-paced sports like basketball and soccer to relieve your anxieties. Like running in groups? Here’s a list of local clubs.
Center
Explore ways to find your center through meditation, yoga, prayer etc. Close your eyes, relax your shoulders and restore your spirit. Find free online yoga tutorials from Transformation Yoga Project.
Vibe
Find people who match your energy. Take advantage of MeetUps and free dating apps to find people who can understand you.
Play
Music making can heal. Get started with free online music courses. Students, contact Rock to the Future about their free Mobile Music Workshops.
Vote
In between presidential elections, stay active in mayoral, judicial and gubernatorial elections. Learn more about why every vote matters here.
Snap
Use your Instagram page to tell your story through images. Check out pages like @HealingThroughArt or @PocPhotographers to get inspired.
Grow
Plant seeds of hope and healing. Embracing nature through gardening is a form of self-care. Better your mental health through gardening and do a service to your body through eating natural foods.
Laugh
Release endorphins that make us feel happy. Local comedy clubs can be affordable. Get some cheap laughs at your local comedy club.
Relish
Savor the moments that make you the happiest. Spend time with people you love and document your experiences to hold onto those memories forever.
Read
Get lost in a great book. Explore the Free Library of Philadelphia for great reads and great activities for book lovers.
Strengthen
Hone your ability to support yourself and others through Compassion Training that helps you integrate kindness into every interaction, strengthening your well-being and uplifting those around you.