Black Mental Health over Trauma

  As a black male paired with my stature, I experience racial trauma daily.  Racial trauma has subconsciously shaped my social norms across a variety of situations and taught me how to shrink to make others feel more comfortable and safer.  I have realized that the more I embrace my own culture despite my level of education, my ability to code switch, friendly disposition, and bright smile I am still often viewed as a potential threat.   Something as simple as driving, especially at night can be a highly anxiety inducing situation.  Just the sight of any flashing lights (break lights, Christmas lights, blinking lights) or sounds of sirens (fire trucks, ambulance, police) causes a litany of physical and emotional responses.  Thoughts of becoming another sensationalized news story, widowing my wife, leaving my daughters without a father or my mom having to bury her only son plague my mind and run rampant.  Imagine a 15-minute drive to work with a 5-minute cool down period in the parking