There are so many stigma’s around mental health for African Americans. We’re often not afforded proper healthcare, misdiagnosed, and even in our own communities are not taken seriously and viewed as “weak”.
There needs to be more people that advocate for mental health awareness in communities of color, especially within sub minority spaces like black LGBTQIA+.
I’m making this post as somewhat of a scream into the void, maybe some of my journey will resonate with someone.
I was diagnosed with “manic depression” when I was about 11 as a result of early childhood trauma. Being raised in a black southern baptist household and being denied proper treatment because my symptoms were just “the devil” just cemented the trauma.
Later on in life during my early 20s, I sought out help and was properly diagnosed with BP2. Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s honestly made me so scared and ashamed to even consider being someone who was disabled. Theres a lot of gross humor and stigma attached to the term “bipolar”, even today people still use it to describe themselves as a pun or to be insulting.
Im 33 yrs old and it took years me to accept my diagnosis and come to terms with having bp2. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect and looking back, there are countless times where my symptoms were made light of or brushed off as me being the “weird black friend”. There are so many symptoms of bp2 that I thought were just quirks or me being “extra” and just knowing that in itself provided a sense of relief.
Also recently was made aware that my upbringing promoted “ableism” and didn’t know what that meant until I took time to research it. Black families often teach us that we should “smile through the pain” or “suck things up”. This can negatively translate to being an ableist if you’re unaware, regardless of your intention. So many unhealthy cultural norms and behaviors to unlearn and unpack.
(/j /lh ) Me looking at list of bp2 symptoms; “What tf do you mean? So I’m not some random ladies demon unicorn alien spawn that she birthed as a result of her ‘unchristian like impure thoughts?’”Good to know ✔️ though it also kind of sucks cause it takes away from my mystique just a little 🤏🏽😂
All in all, don’t suffer in silence. It’s okay to not be okay, I encourage anyone who may even have the slightest doubt or have shame as a result of your upbringing to get the help you need. Life doesn’t have to be as hard as we’re raised to believe, give yourself grace. 🫶🏽
