I feel like a hypocrite writing about No Shame (which is why this post is coming so late). After all, it is meant to shed light on the stigma surrounding mental health in the black community. It is meant to say "you don't have to be afraid or ashamed to get help if you need it, or even if you think you may need it."
But that's exactly what I am. Afraid and ashamed.
I am afraid of what people would say if they knew I had to go lie on someone's couch to figure out what was wrong with me. Afraid I'd be rejected if something is actually wrong with me. Ashamed of the weakness I feel. Shouldn't I be strong enough to handle everything I do? Shouldn't I just be happy that life isn't any worse than it is? After all, life now is a breeze compared to what my ancestors had to deal with, and they didn't have any shrinks. So what does it say about me that I think I need one?
But that's just the type of attitude that keeps us from living the full life we deserve. So many times we (I) try to apply logic to something that is illogical. I can't compare other folks' struggles to my own. All I can do is acknowledge that there is something that needs to be addressed. And I can't let ideas of "white folks' problems" and "black people don't..." stand in the way of that.
I feel it helps to know that others genuinely go through the same thing.
ReplyDeleteIt may help you to accept it as normal and being afraid is even more normal. In fact being ashamed is what causes others to believe they're alone with their mental issues.
I don't think we've reached a point in society where we can share it with everyone (does more harm than good in my experience) but with the way we can anonymously let our feelings out (blogging for instance) you can get help and information and comfort without unhelpful people having to know what you're going through.
Thanks for sharing!