Psychiatry
You always hear in American TV shows how African Americans don’t do Psychiatry, they talk to their priests. I always thought this was specific to their culture until a few years back. I had been under a lot of stress from my work and things going on in my life, and I decided to seek help from a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist to help manage the stress.
It was really helpful to have a safe place to discuss my worries without judgment and learn how to control the stress without losing my mind lols. It was very helpful, and with the two of them working together I didn’t have to be on medications for long, as you know these medications can be addictive. After a while, I was alright to stop seeing them (only as needed). Along with their help, I changed my daily routine as much as I could so every time I felt like I was getting buried with work, I would cook or exercise or even dance like crazy around the house :)
Now, all of this was unknown except to a few of my closest friends (My besties of Besties as I like to call them). Still, when others found out including my parents (My dad especially), they lost the gasket and through a tantrum said that my faith was not strong and I should be able to solve all my problems by turning to God !!!!!! And that I shouldn’t be talking to strangers about my problems. In this day and believe there is still a stigma about finding professional help when needed. Does this mean that if you get sick you shouldn’t go to doctors and you should pray about it? Isn’t this the same but for the mind?
I know this is a very complicated issue and just writing a blog about it won’t change many minds, but having gone through this experience myself and gaining the benefits of professional help makes me think again and again about these stigmas that we have in our lives and how they are not fair. So on my own, I want to encourage everyone to try and find the help they need not caring what others would think about it because trust me it makes a big difference. I do believe in God strongly, but I also believe that he has created doctors for a reason, don’t you think? That is all I’m saying.
