Black Women
and Depression
Depression in Black women is more common than many people realize. Black
women are more vulnerable to depression due to a
convergence of societal and biological factors such as
stress related racial discrimination, sexual abuse, class-ism,
poverty, companionship "loneliness" and high prevalence
rates of health problems such as hypertension and cardiovascular
disease.
Clinical depression is
often a vague disorder for Black women. The old adage of "being sick
and tired of being sick and tired" is quite relevant for these
women, since they often suffer from persistent, untreated physical
and emotional symptoms. If these women consult health professionals,
they are frequently told that they are hypertensive, run down, or
tense and nervous. They may be prescribed antihypertensive,
vitamins, or mood elevating pills; or they may be informed to lose
weight, learn to relax, get a change of scenery, or get more
exercise. The root of their symptoms frequently is not explored; and
these women continue to complain of being tired, weary, empty,
lonely, sad. Other women friends and family members may say, "We all
feel this way sometimes, it's just the way it is for us Black
women." - Barbara Jones Warren
Definition of Clinical
depression and the symptoms
An evaluation for
clinical depression is recommended if you experience five or more of
the following symptoms for longer than two weeks, or if the symptoms
are severe enough to interfere with your daily routine:
- A persistent sad, anxious or
"empty" mood
- Sleeping too little or
sleeping too much
- Reduced appetite and weight
loss, or increased appetite and weight gain (weight gain is more
likely to occur among African-American women suffering from
depression)
- Loss of interest or pleasure
in activities once enjoyed
- Restlessness or irritability
- Persistent physical symptoms
that don't respond to treatment (such as headaches, chronic
pain, or constipation and other digestive disorders)
- Difficulty concentrating,
remembering, or making decisions
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feeling guilty, hopeless or
worthless
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Dr. Yolanda Brooks, a
Dallas, Texas-based psychologist, cites another reason for minority
women's reluctance to seek counseling.
Admitting the Need
for Therapy is Like Admitting Weakness
"Women of color tend to look at therapy as a sign of weakness," she
says. "Black women tend to present themselves to society as strong,
resilient human beings. In my opinion, you can trace this dynamic
back to slavery, when a woman had to pretend she was okay when she
was actually suffering inside. This characteristic has been deeply
ingrained in the African American culture, to its detriment. I don't
think pretending to be strong is always good."
Brooks says the stereotype is perpetuated in movies and literature,
where mama keeps quiet about her suffering. "Nobody knows she is
hurting," explains Brooks, "but when she gets alone behind the
closed door, you see that she is physically sick."
Brooks also adds that for some women, black women in particular,
admitting a need for therapy is a negative thing and reinforces all
that is wrong in their lives.
"Once
a black woman decides to seek counseling, she feels she is admitting
she is not handling her problems well. She feels that seeing a
therapist is validating what she sees as her lack of self-control.
Treatment and Medication
Psychological treatment of depression
(psychotherapy) assists the depressed individual in several ways.
First, supportive counseling helps ease the pain of depression, and
addresses the feelings of hopelessness that accompany depression.
Second, cognitive therapy changes the pessimistic ideas, unrealistic
expectations, and overly critical self-evaluations that create
depression and sustain it. Cognitive therapy helps the depressed
person recognize which life problems are critical, and which are
minor. It also helps him/her to develop positive life goals, and a
more positive self-assessment. Third, problem solving therapy
changes the areas of the person's life that are creating significant
stress, and contributing to the depression. This may require
behavioral therapy to develop better coping skills, or Interpersonal
therapy, to assist in solving relationship problems.
Depression is caused by imbalances in chemicals in the brain and
other parts of the body that influence things like mood, sleep, and
how much energy we have. Antidepressant medications correct these
imbalances. The two most common types are selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac and tricyclic antidepressants
such as Elavil. While antidepressant medications have been shown to
be extremely effective, many can cause side effects, some of which
are temporary. Since different medications affect individuals
differently, you and your doctor may need to try more than one
before you find the right one or combination.
~ References ~
http://www.blackwomenshealth.com/depression.htm
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/666
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/40/23/14
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/treatment.htm
