21 Times Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Is the Therapist You Never Knew You Needed
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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a comedy with a surprisingly dark premise: the protagonist is kidnapped and held in a bunker for 15 years, then set free to rebuild her life in New York City. It's difficult to strike a balance between doing justice to that kind of trauma without getting so bogged down in it that the comedy suffers, but over two strong seasons, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has proved it's more than up for the challenge.
If Broad City can be considered "sneak-attack feminism," then Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt should rightfully be considered sneak-attack mental health advocacy. Season two in particular is not afraid to jump right into the nitty-gritty of how humans cope with stress, depression, anxiety, and even addiction, but all with the characteristic upbeat optimism and quirky humor that have so endeared us to Kimmy. It's an extremely important portrayal that can be validating for those of us who have been through similar struggles and illuminating for those of us who haven't. And it is a rarity in mainstream television: of the few shows willing to discuss mental health, most completely define their characters by their trauma, and we don't get to see them overcoming it and living happy, complex lives. Kimmy Schmidt breaks the mold.
Read on to see all the lessons Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt teaches us about mental health, and remember: females are strong as hell!
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"Normal" Is a Relative Term
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Always Value Your Worth
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Acknowledge Your Feelings; They're Valid
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No Feeling Lasts Forever
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Not Everything Is Your Fault
That's called a distortion, or an inaccurate thought that reinforces negative thinking and keeps you feeling bad about yourself.
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Escapism Isn't Always a Bad Thing
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But Eventually You're Gonna Need to Work Through Those Problems
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It Can Be Hard to Break Damaging Patterns of Behavior
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But Recognizing Them Is the First Step Toward Fixing Them
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It's OK to Have Boundaries
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Don't Be Afraid to Stick Up For Yourself
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When Doubt Creeps In, Try to Fake It Till You Make It
No one feels competent 100 percent of the time, but you can press on.
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Pay Attention to When and How Your Body Responds to Stress
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Try Not to Worry About the "What Ifs"
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Sometimes You Have to Put Your Needs First
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Sometimes You Need a Good Reality Check
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And Sometimes You Just Need to Vent With Friends
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Hold Onto Your Hope
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But Learn to Let Go of the Things You Can't Change
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Sh*t Happens
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