Week 1 Recap: Love & Mental Health: Dating While Finding Your Value, Healing, and Faith

## Ask Nyomi Mental Mondays

 ""Mental Mondays blog banner showing joyful Black women in green, featuring 'Love & Mental Health' series title and mental health awareness ribbon against emerald background"

By: Nyomi Banks | Ask Nyomi: Bridging the Gap Published: Monday, May 5, 2025

We had a very personal and important conversation as we began Mental Health Awareness Month: how do we navigate love when mental health is a part of our story?

Our four-part series Love & Mental Health began this past Thursday with an impactful live discussion that was inspired by a letter from a disabled veteran, age 42, who posed the following question:

"Should I just accept being alone forever?"

I was stopped in my tracks by that letter, which also made me realize why this space is there.

We discussed dating while managing PTSD, anxiety, depression, and trauma—as well as what it truly means to love and be loved while healing—with the help of our resident therapist Dr. Will Washington, faith-based coach Krista Nicole, and the sage Dog Pound Mike Mike.

Genuine Discussions We Had:

When to share your mental health journey in dating: Dr. Will reminded us that timing is more about self-awareness than it is about a specific date. He inquired, "How well do you know yourself?" "How do you envision this relationship developing?"

Therapy as strength: Krista and Dr. Will explained that therapy is a sign of self-awareness and personal development, not something to conceal. Being emotionally articulate is powerful in today's world.

Dating and faith: Krista talked about her own experience after the divorce and how her relationship with God bolstered her morals. She stated, "I've turned down good men because they weren't spiritually compatible with me, and that's okay."

The role of shame and rejection: According to Dr. Will, shame frequently results in isolation and self-sabotage. "Healing is a shared journey," he said. "You don't recover by yourself. You weren't the only one who endured the trauma.

Redefining worth through God's eyes: Krista's unvarnished vulnerability motivated a lot of people in the chat. "You are not defined by your past. Christ is who you are. Everything changes when that becomes your reality.

💚 Highlights That Caused a Stir:

💌 "You become less of your story the more you tell it." Dr. Will

💬 "The counterfeits will be weeded out by faith." – Krista Nicole

🎯 "Ground yourself—passion will make you feel married on the first date." Dr. Will

🔥 "Knowing who you are, despite the dirty mirror, is the essence of self-love." Nyomi Banks

✨ Mental Health Highlight:

This month, Mental Health America will receive 100% of the sales from our Mind & Heart Collection. We appreciate everyone who has already donated and bought t-shirts, hoodies, and mugs! For shopping and support, go to [AskNyomi.com](https://asknyomi.com) if you haven't already.

🗣️ What Comes Next?

📅 Come explore: "Supporting a Partner with Mental Health Challenges" with guest Aquila Wheatley, LMFT and founder of Support Advice, on this Thursday, May 8th at 6 PM PST, Week 2 of Love & Mental Health.

I'll leave you with this thought until then:

🌱 *We no longer settle for love that requires us to shrink when we choose to love ourselves completely, flaws, trauma, healing, and all.

Remain grounded. Remain sympathetic. Additionally, always remember to Always keep it sexy.