Editor's Letter

Issue No. 5: Stressed Out!
Words - Attia Taylor
Photography - Mario Rubén Carrión

After an incredible effort to create an issue on Black maternal health, the Womanly team inevitably felt the stress of grassroots work. It’s not easy. We continue to honor the community work and advocacy work that folks have been doing for generations to heal us and lead us to healthier and more prosperous lives. This issue, we approached the topic of stress because an overwhelming number of people in our community expressed the need to learn about stress relief and how to prevent stress related health issues. We hear you and see you. We’re stressed out too.

As a diverse, all-volunteer team, working full-time jobs, we are often pulling long nights and weekends to make Womanly happen. We do this because we collectively recognize the dire need for this information, particularly for people with little to no access to accurate health information.

Issue No. 5: Stressed Out was created to help you navigate the pressures felt from racism, underemployment, medical bills, invisible illnesses, chronic pain, childcare, predatory policies, systemic oppression, and everything in between. Navigating a system that was built to drain us is no easy feat, but we intend to provide support along the way. 

I truly hope that this issue will provide useful resources and the tools to reflect on and address some of the stressors that prevent you from leading a happy and healthy life. We’ve compiled stories and resources to help you identify and cope with everyday stressors. Please know that we’re here for you and do not hesitate to reach out to us for support and additional resources. 

Yours in Solidarity, 
Attia