It looks like different things to
different people. In the end it’s called the same thing… Depression.
As a community, blacks view mental
health issues with closed eyes. It is seen as the issue that we deal with and
don’t address. When someone says counseling the answer is always, “I am not
crazy”. And that is definitely a true statement however it doesn’t mean that
you do not have issues that couldn’t be addressed with counseling.
We all go through things in life
that if they continue without intervention they can become too much to handle.
What happens then…. We break!
“Fantasia
Barrino’s recent confession of her suicide attempt sparked a realization that
black women are as susceptible to depression as anyone else. When asked about
her recent suicide attempt, she explains “I was overloaded with carrying six
years of so much…dealing with my family, dealing with my father, dealing with
men and their bullshit…” I think we can all relate in one way or another. While
her “so much” and (y)our “so much”may not be identical, people feel
overwhelmingly inclined to pass their issues off to black women—assuming we can
handle it stoically—because we have been doing it for generations” – Crunk Feminist Collective
I will give the disclaimer now; I am
not discounting the strength of my white sisters, however I have never
experienced life as a white woman, just as they have never experienced life as
a black woman. So though we share a gender our experiences are colored
differently.
And
the history of the black woman has been one of self-sacrifice. From their first
days on this land they have been treated as property and sold at will. They
have raised their owner’s children for generations while their children were
sold off like cattle. But they stayed strong. They raised their children over
generation without partners. Avoiding emotions was a survival technique which has
now become a cultural habit. I use the
word “they”and “their”, when I should be saying “We” and “our”.African-American
or Black women, however you reference yourself, have had a different and
difficult walk in this world; can we say that depression is side-effect or
by-product of that journey? Whatever your answer, the one truism is that even
the strongest person gets tired; and tired is not a weak emotion it’s a
necessary one. We all get tired. However when that feeling is all consuming,
over powering or takes over your existence, it is time for some intervention
and help. You need to talk to someone.
296.32 Severe
Depressive Mood Disorder (Moderate)
ETIOLOGY_______________________
Research has shown that depression
is influenced by both biological and environmental factors. Studies show that
first degree relatives of people with depression have a higher incidence of the
illness, whether they are raised with this relative or not, supporting the
influence of biological factors. Situational factors, if nothing else, can
exacerbate a depressive disorder in significant ways. Examples of these factors
would include lack of a support system, stress, illness in self or loved one,
legal difficulties, financial struggles, and job problems. These factors can be
cyclical in that they can worsen the symptoms and act as symptoms themselves.
SYMPTOMS_______________________
Symptoms of depression include the
following:
· depressed
mood (such as feelings of sadness or emptiness)
· reduced
interest in activities that used to be enjoyed, sleep disturbances (either not
being able to sleep well or sleeping to much)
· loss
of energy or a significant reduction in energy level
· difficulty
concentrating, holding a conversation, paying attention, or making decisions
that used to be made fairly easily
· suicidal
thoughts or intentions.
TREATMENT___________________
Treatment can either combine both
pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy or utilize one or the other individually.
Medications used to treat this disorder include Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and
Zoloft. Other medications can be found, along with their descriptions can be
found in the Medications page. Psychotherapy is useful in helping the patient
understand the factors involved in either creating or exacerbating the
depressive symptomotology. Personal factors may include a history of abuse
(physical, emotional, and/or sexual), maladaptive coping skills/ Environmental
factors involved in this disorder include, among others, a poor social support
system and difficulties related to finances or employment.
PROGNOSIS_____________________
Major Depressive Disorder has a
better prognosis than other mood disorders in that medication and therapy have
been very successful in alleviating symptomotology. However, many people with
this disorder find that it can be episodic, in that periodic stressors can
bring back symptoms. In this case, it is often helpful to have an ongoing
relationship with a mental health professional just as you would a physician if
you had diabetes or high blood pressure.
Special
treatment considerations for African American women:
According to the National Alliance
on Mental Illness (NAMI); only 12 percent of African American women seek help
and/or treatment. Building and maintaining a strong support network can aid in
the recovery and future prevention from clinical depression. Learn from role
models to help you distinguish between what you can and cannot control. Many
African American women minimize the seriousness of the problem and do not
proactively seek treatment. The strength of faith and church supports can
supplement depression treatment and reduce isolation. Seek other forms of
support to better your mental health. Putting yourself first on the list is
essential.
I have family members who deal with
this daily. It is not easy to see people you love going through something that
you cannot help them with. I make sure that I am there to support them and
whenever they need me. I also PRAY WITHOUT CEASING! I know that prayer changes
things.
Note to my sistas: Many African American
women do not seek treatment because it is viewed as a personal weakness, not a
health problem. We all need help in some form, at some point in our lives. It’s
not a weakness to say you need help; it takes strength to let someone else help
you.
The members of the church don’t smile. The walls were white
and sterile. My heart literally sank when I sat down in one of the many empty
pews. Though I am no longer a member of this specific church I still think of
it as my church home. It is where I learned about myself as Christian, where I
learned from the faith struggles of my friends and my own personal struggles
with what was right. It saddens me that my home church is struggling. My
prayers go out to this church and I will do anything in power to help in
anyway. 
