Unfiltered: Afghan, not Dewana

Hello and Salaam Jigars and Jaans, In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing Husna Safi, a psychotherapist in Canada.   She is an Afghan registered clinical social worker and provides a tailored approach using a bio-psycho social model of care to treat anxiety, trauma, and attachment issues. Come join us in this conversation where we discuss healing, finding a sense of belonging, connection, generational trauma and more!  She provides invaluable insights on where stigma comes from in Afghans and shares some tools and techniques.  This was truly a profound conversation that I know all Afghans and even non-Afghans can benefit from.  Links mentioned in the episode:Husna Jaan's article- https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/a-silent-mental-health-crisis-plagues-afghans-at-home-and-abroad-49437Husna Jaan's Instagram: https://instagram.com/safitherapy?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Husna Jaan’s website https://www.safitherapy.ca/biographyDon’t forget to follow the podcast instagram! The hashtags for the podcast are #notdewana #notdewanafamily #jigarsandjaanshttps://instagram.com/unfilteredafghanpodcast?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Hello Jigars and Jaans,In this episode, I've had the honor of interviewing Tarana Rahimi the founder of Afghan Women Strong.  Tarana Jaan is a human rights activist who uses her platform to continuously shed light on what's going on with the women of Afghanistan.  Originally, she started her platform to highlight some amazing women and their work in Afghanistan. But with the collapse of the government in August 2021, she decided to change her platform and shed light on how the women of Afghanistan are constantly being affected by it. For example, the ban of education for women is heavily talked about in this episode.  Below are the questions that were answered:Tarana's introduction/ opening chat about Afghan Women StrongWhat inspired you to pursue this path of an activist and amplify the voices of Women in Afghanistan? (share as many details behind the birth of Afghan Women Strong you'd like!!)Can you shed some light on the current situation of girls/women in Afghanistan (education ban, what jobs they can currently pursue, anything you feel is important to share)?What can we as the Afghan diaspora do to help?Now that you've been in the activist world for some time, what is one thing you love about it and what is one thing you want to change?Being such a strong female Afghan figure who is sharing the stories of other Afghan women, What steps do you take to cope with your own mental health through this journey?What does mental health as an Afghan mean to you?       Dig Deeper Segment What does love mean to you?What is the best advice you've ever received when it comes to healing?What makes your heart smile? If you could change one thing in your local Afghan community what would it be?What do you think about therapy?What does Tarana mean to you in one word?Please follow her on instagram and support her in her mission of spreading awareness on the rights of Afghan women! https://www.instagram.com/afghanwomenstrong/Nadia Hashmi Jaan's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nadiahashimibooks/Nadia's Books:https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-that-Broke-Its-Shell/dp/0062244752https://www.amazon.com/Sparks-Like-Stars-Nadia-Hashimi/dp/0063008289

Hello and Salaam my Jigars and Jaans! Join me on this special episode as I share my wonderful journey and unforgettable moments from the Afghan-American Conference 2023, held in the vibrant city of Washington DC from June 23rd to June 25th.Throughout the episode, I'll take you on a personal tour of the conference, describing the atmosphere, the incredible people I met, and the enlightening discussions that filled the event. As an Afghan-American myself, this conference held immense significance for me, as it provided a unique opportunity to connect with my heritage and embrace my American identity.I'll recount the excitement and anticipation I felt leading up to the event, not knowing what to expect, but eager to immerse myself in the culture and stories of my community. From the very start, the warm hospitality of fellow attendees made me feel right at home, instantly fostering a sense of belonging.Throughout the conference, I attended inspiring sessions that covered a wide range of topics, from preserving our cultural heritage to navigating the challenges faced by the Afghan-American diaspora. The diverse perspectives and shared experiences left a profound impact on me, reaffirming the strength and resilience of our community.The stories of success and perseverance inspired me and reminded me of the countless possibilities that lie ahead for our community.As I reflect on my personal encounters and conversations with fellow attendees, I'll share heartwarming and humorous anecdotes that left lasting impressions on me. The connections I made during those three days were truly invaluable, and I'll cherish the memories for a lifetime. I truly made some life long connections.This episode is not just a summary of the Afghan-American Conference 2023; it's a celebration of the unity, diversity, and hope that thrived within those walls. Join me as I relive this extraordinary experience, and together, we'll rejoice in the shared heritage that brings us all together as one big Afghan-American diaspora.  This episode is me sharing a much needed experience that brought me closer to my culture. Follow the podcast instagram!!!!!!https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredafghanpodcast/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D Responsibility to our homeland causes mentioned in the episode:https://afghan-relief.org/about/https://aseelapp.com/https://wiseafghanistan.org/Afghan American Community Organization:https://aa-co.org/@afghanamericancommunityorgPerformers:@hello.hosnah Violinist@jawad.m.f Vocalist@marwadoost Poet@djmast.us

In this episode, I share a very powerful conversation with Ariana Abawe.  She is the Founder of Ariana Magazine.  Ariana's main goal with the magazine is to give a voice to the voiceless and amplify their voices. As an Afghan, she aims to showcase the Afghan community and the Afghan culture to the world at large.  She also highlights the stories of the talented individuals there are in Afghan communities, from artists, actors, entrepreneurs, writers, fashion designers and much more. Ariana is based in the UK and also hosts various Afghan cultural events.  She strives to show the positive side of Afghanistan.  She is breaking all barriers.  She is a female founder of a very successful magazine and she shows non-Afghans the connections to Afghanistan.  She reminds everyone of how rich our culture actually is. We also discuss her career path and she gives some tips on how to pursue a career in journalism. She shares her own inspiring experiences of how she fell in love with journalism.   In her own words, she gives a voice to the voiceless.Below find all the links to Ariana Jaan’s work!!https://www.arianamagazine.comhttps://www.arianamagazine.com/productshttps://www.instagram.com/arianathejournalist/https://www.instagram.com/arianamagazine_/Also, here is a link to the Afghan Sikh model she referred to:https://instagram.com/karanjee?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=As always don’t forget to follow my instagram for updates!! https://instagram.com/unfilteredafghanpodcast?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= 

In this episode, I try to ask all the questions we as first generation Afghan Americans, want to ask a therapist.  What's even better than asking a therapist? Asking a licensed clinical psychologist like my special guest, Dr. Nafisa Sekandari.  Dr. Nafisa Sekandari is a licensed clinical psychologist, award winning author, lecturer, and online trainer. She started "Mental Health for Muslims" in hopes of providing mental health information that are both clinically supported and Islamically sound.  Dr. Sekandari is on a mission to make mental health accessible to the masses…regardless of where they live in the world. Through her Mental Health Break podcast, Dr. Sekandari aims to encourage her audience to prioritize their mental health and create dialogue about mental health in general.  Through her "Transforming Anxiety" virtual courses she focuses on treating anxiety from a holistic, medication free perspective.  In her courses,  you will learn all the tools necessary to manage and overcome anxiety in easy to follow steps. Dr. Sekandari’s comprehensive course “Culturally Competent Service Delivery with Muslims” has been helping thousands of non-Muslim mental health professionals gain a deeper understanding about the Muslim community while improving their cultural competency with the Muslim patient. A HUGE thank you to Dr. Nafisa for honoring me with her presence and doing this interview. Dr. Nafisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_nafisa_sekandari/Mental Health 4 Muslims : https://mentalhealth4muslims.comMental Health Break Podcast: https://www.transforminganxiety.com/podcastTransforming Anxiety and OCD courses: https://www.transforminganxiety.comFeel free to email me with any feedback or suggestions at medinamua18@gmail.com Follow my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredafghanpodcast/ 

HELLLOOOO Jigars and Jaans! Did you miss me? Did you enjoy season one? I hope you did because I most definitely did :) WELCOME TO SEASON 2!!!!!My first official guest of Season 2 is Sarah, a dear friend who is in the podcast world just like me.  Join us in this episode as we discuss life being podcast hosts, our take on Afghan friendships and the importance of them. We also discuss our views on people pleasing tendencies as Afghans and the vulnerability of talking about things people avoid talking about.  As always,don't forget to add me on instagram and I love you all!! @unfilteredafghanpodcast https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredafghanpodcast/?hl=en

Hello and Salaam Jigars and Jaans!You won't want to miss this one.  This episode is all about self reflection.  Often, we hear about goals and resolutions, but I feel it is just as important to reflect on the past year before setting new goals.  This episode is a lighthearted conversation between three Afghan friends who dig a little deeper in themselves.  Don't forget to ask yourself these questions before going into the new year.  Reflecting on this hectic previous year is a good way to help you to review your skills and develop them to have more efficiency. It's an important aspect of intentional and mindful living - questioning yourself in a positive way, in order to create a system that will serve you better for the future. Also, don't forget to follow Sarah @gwgnpodcast and give her podcast a listen (you won't regret it). Happy new year to my Not Dewana family, love you all. As always, feel free to leave me any feedback, comments, or questions medinamua18@gmail.com and follow me @unfilteredafghanpodcast. 

Hello and Salaam Jigars and Jaans!! Today's episode focuses on Afghan American communities and how we can make them into better safe spaces.  I discuss some powerful points that were provided by @thelanterninitiative (follow them on instagram) in which we can keep an eye out for certain individuals in the communities.  Individuals who may be struggling with their mental health, fighting a battle with addiction, or people who are just feeling lonely may need more help than others.  With this episode, I aim to provide tips, resources and ideas on what we can do to make these individuals feel comfortable and possibly save their lives. FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredafghanpodcast/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D@unfilteredafghanpodcast Below are the inspirational people and pages I mentioned in the episode: Instagrams below:@afghansforabettertomorrow@afghanwomenstrong@womenforafghanwomen@nadiahashimibooks@afghanamericanfnd@afghanamericancommunityorg@mahnazzy1@hope._orgHOTLINES:988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text)1-800-662-4357 (SAMHSA)Crisis Text Line offers advice and referrals for anyone who feels that they’re experiencing a crisis. This can include drug and alcohol dependency, suicidal impulses, family problems, and other personal difficulties. To access the Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741 any time, day or nightAs always, feel free to email me with any feedback, possible guests, or comments at medinamua18@gmail.com<3 

Hi, hello and salaam jigars and jaans. If Ross and Rachel can take break why can't I? This was a really tough one to record after a break , so please be kind! In this episode, I share a tragic experience that happened in my life.  I lost my dad a few months ago and I decided to use my experience to shed some light on grief, grieving and forgiveness.  If you have any feedback, suggestions or comments feel free to email me at medinamua18@gmail.com! Don’t forget to follow the podcast on instagram: @unfilteredafghanpodcast I love you all so much!!!Need someone to talk to:https://www.7cups.com988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States. When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

Be enough for yourself first, the rest of the world can wait! Self-care means taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy, you can be well, you can do your job, you can help and care for others, and you can do all the things you need to and want to accomplish in a day. This episode explores 5 types of self care. Mental, physical, social, spiritual and emotional self care are essential in maintaining a healthier lifestyle.  If you have any feedback, suggestions or comments feel free to email me at medinamua18@gmail.com! Don’t forget to follow the podcast on instagram: @unfilteredafghanpodcast I love you all so much!!!

The three musketeers: Empathy, Sympathy, Compassion (title courtesy of my creative niece) are what help increase emotional intelligence. Have you ever stepped back and thought about how high your emotional intelligence is just as much as your IQ levels? My goal with this episode is to make us take a second look at how sympathetic and empathetic we are when people are visibly having a tough time. I briefly discuss sympathy and compassion whereas I discuss empathy at great length. Increasing our emotional intelligence will strengthen our relationships with our parents, friends, other family members, coworkers and humans.  If we stop judging and put ourselves in other people’s shoes, we can make people feel more validated. As always thank you to all my listeners and remember I welcome all feedback. Feel free to email me at medinamua18@gmail.com with questions, suggestions and/or comments. Also here to talk if anyone needs it💕

With everything going on in our daily lives, it’s important to understand we need to sometimes take a step back and recalibrate to reduce stress. Before we feel too exhausted or drained, we should take the time and mentally reset ourselves. This gets us in a more fresh, positive mood. This episode focuses on some, not all, the mental health resets I do in order to gain some sanity back! I chose to do this episode because I took a 4 day trip alone to visit my best friend and it was one of the most refreshing things I have done in a while!  This episode was important to record because often in our culture were deemed to be selfish if we do things to focus on ourselves instead of our families. It’s important to raise awareness in our culture, that sometimes it’s okay to take a break and RESET ourselves.⬇️Questions or concerns?⬇️Feedback? medinamua18@gmail.comWant to listen to the After Maghrib podcast I mentioned? ⬇️ https://linktr.ee/aftermaghrib 1-800-273-8255 (Suicide prevention hotline) Just need someone who will listen?https://www.7cups.com/ 

Unfortunately, people have an opinion about everything. But for some reason our skin, hair, nails, bodies, height, etc constantly become the topic of conversation. We are constantly fed these unnecessary comments and have been guilty of making these comments ourselves in the past. In this episode I discuss my own experiences with appearance shaming in my Afghan communities. I talk about various types of body and appearance shaming and how we can promote self love more because we are all beautiful! Remember, if we can all live life differently then we can sure as heck all look different doing it!!  Big thank you to my dear friend, Lois Lawton Virtual Services for all of the help in the production of this episode. Hire her for all virtual assistance needs! Instagram: @loislawtonvirtualPositivity promoting people I follow:Insta: @anisa.diab (Muslim mental health counselor)@farajmentalhealth (supporting mental health in the Muslim communities) @islamicmindfulness (daily self affirmations) https://www.hillarycounseling.com/2019/05/02/101-positive-body-affirmations/ 1-800-273-8255 (Suicide prevention hotline) Just need someone who will listen?https://www.7cups.com/ 

Jigars and Jaans! As some of you know, I needed to unplug which caused a delay in uploading this episode.  Remember, it's completely okay to unplug and take a step back from whatever your mental health state can't handle at that moment.  The questions I've chosen to answer in this episode are: Why weren’t you allowed to get rid of facial hair? How did your family handle you being bullied/ did you even tell them? You said it took a conversation when the lady was rude about your condition? But that worked for you. A “conversation” doesn’t fix everything in our community these older gens are hella stubborn.  Why did you feel the need to have a party to hang out with the afghan girls your age? Can you talk more about what you mean by “gateway into that afghan group”? You said your best friend passed away? How did you deal with that loss in afghan family at a young age?Websites I've mentioned in this episode are below:https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-nowWant to talk to someone? Call 1-800-273-8255 https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/Mayim Bialik's Breakdown Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/6TgOe2poCdpZtQwKetQmU1https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayim-bialiks-breakdown/id1546456269

This episode is about “Getting to know your host.” I dive deep into my childhood, school experiences, and some personal self esteem triggers. This one definitely shows a more vulnerable side of me and how certain negative experiences impacted my mental health. I also talk about a major event in my life that defied some cultural odds.  As always, please reach out with any feedback, questions or comments at medinamua18@gmail.com!

A lot of people reached out and wanted more details on what this podcast will be about so here it is! In this episode, I talk about my support system and the people in my everyday life who keep me going. A support system is key in maintaining a positive mental health. There are people out there who don’t have firm support systems and I hope this podcast can become one for them.  I also talk about the immense support I’ve received and how it motivated me even more to pursue this show.  You will also hear why I chose a podcast as a platform to talk about the issues we face in Afghan societies as first generation afghan Americans and what inspired me to do this. This episode is a brief introduction but the future episodes will contain more detailed content along with the series of events in my life that caused me to be so vocal when discussing my mental health. Don’t forget to email me at medinamua18@gmail.com!!

Welcome Jigars and jaans! This trailer briefly explains what to look forward to in this podcast.  Special guests, Q&A sessions, and vulnerable conversations are just a snippet of what will be included! Feel free to email me topic ideas or send me questions you’d like me to answer at medinamua18@gmail.com! Disclaimer: I am not a therapist or licensed mental health counselor; just a girl who shares her experiences.

Hello and Salaam Jigars and Jaans!!!Happy birthday to me!!! Today is a beautiful day... On my birthday I decided to upload a bonus episode simply summarizing season 1 and expressing my immense gratitude to my listener in all 29 countries!!!Love you all so much.  Follow my instagram @unfilteredafghanpodcast for more information on season 2 and a release date!!!!!