Dear Dr. Beal:
I am totally blown away by this, but I just found out that my seventy-year-old mom suffers from anxiety and she never told me. I have been going to a therapist for years and wondering what was wrong with me. I have even gone to the emergency room a few times before I found out the source of my problem. Here’s the deal on this that has really set me off. My sister told me, “Oh yeah, I have it too.” Really, family? Why didn’t anyone tell me?
Signed,
Anxious and Angry
Dear Anxious and Angry:
There is a stigma overshadowing mental health and mental illness among people of color that dates back generations. Depending on the age of your mother’s generational messages for the past seventy years, they did not discuss anything because no one wanted to be labeled “crazy”. Therefore, people would just suffer in silence and never knew what was wrong with them. After all, we are a people of resilience and survived slavery; surely we can survive sadness or anxiety. Eventually, if their symptoms persisted, one may have mentioned how they were feeling to their general practitioner. This physician may have prescribed medication “for their nerves” but they would never consider going to a psychiatrist or therapist. The most popular mode of defense for African Americans not recognizing their mental health concern has also been prayer. If they were able to pray about it the “weakness” would go away. We must recognize that mental illness does not discriminate based on color and is not a sign of weakness. The cause for most illnesses are still unknown which brings us back to “nature” versus “nurture”. Some illness can be genetically linked and maybe that’s the reason for fear or guilt that is presented in most people. However, the key to mental illness is that it is an “illness” just like any other health issues such as cancer or diabetes. Not so long ago if someone had cancer, people would whisper instead of saying the word out loud. Did the whisper somehow make it better? The answer is no. We can no longer be silent.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness in a given year. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, adults (who are Black/ African Americans) are 20 percent more likely to report serious psychological distress than adult whites. However, we are less likely to seek treatment and if we do, we end it prematurely. Anxiety is a normal emotion that can help us meet deadlines for work or complete assignments. However, an excessive amount of anxiety and worry can become debilitating and can lead to what is known as an anxiety disorder which includes several types that fall in the category. The most common ones are generalized anxiety disorders, phobias, and panic disorder to name a few. The best way to break the stigmas is knowledge. Knowledge is power and removes fear.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is associated with excessive anxiety and worry affecting many areas of ones life. Excessive worry or anxiety must be present for six months or longer in one to receive the diagnosis. In addition, three other common complaints must be present:
- Fatigue
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Restlessness, irritability
- Sleep difficulty (especially insomnia)
- Muscle Tightness
- Muscle aches
- Tremors
- Muscle twitched
- Dizziness
- Even hot flashes
It is important that some are screened for physical issues first, and they are ruled out before the diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is given. The most effective forms of treatment include a combination of medication and therapy. Reader, you, your mother and sister may share some of the same symptoms or they may vary, but all three could possibly have the same diagnosis. Open the dialogue with your family and express how important sharing one’s medical history is. Explain how you felt that you were the only one and it’s easier when you have support. The important fact is to remove the shame and guilt of mental health. I applaud you for recognizing and seeking help. Since you are in therapy, share some of the techniques that your therapist shared with you. Offer to accompany them to a psychiatrist or therapist’s office to make sure they are receiving the correct help. While a little bit of worry can be effective, too much worry can cause one not to function at all. Release your anger and advocate for mental wellness. Inquire about other family members as well. It may help you share with other generations coming after you. Preventative and early awareness always wins. Let’s make ‘Having a Therapist a Good Thing.”
A FEW RESOURCES
Phobia & Anxiety Treatment Center
17 Briar Hollow Ln. #402
Houston, Tx. 77027
281-497-8113
The Anxiety Center of Houston
13333 Dotson Rd. #160
Houston, Tx. 77070
346-206-3992
Do You Have A Question? Connect with me! :
askdrbeal@gmail.com
“Good Mental Health Equals Mental Wealth”