Ballerific Health: Breaking the Chain: Stress and Depression in Black Women

What Is Depression?

More than 19 million Americans suffer annually from some type of depressive illness. Depression is a common and highly treatable disorder that affects over 17-20 million Americans annually, second to heart disease. Clinical depression is a serious medical condition that is more than temporarily feeling sad or blue. It involves disturbances in a person’s mood, concentration, sleep, activity levels, interests, appetite, and social behavior. Most importantly, clinical depression is not just “a mood that one can snap out of,” though it is commonly mistaken for one. There is great speculation as to what causes depression. Many different factors can all come into play when being diagnosed with depression, including, but not limited to biological and genetic factors, situational factors, gender (it affects women more than men), other medications, cognitive issues (negative thoughts), and other illnesses.

Depression and Black Women

According to the Surgeon General, African Americans are overpopulated in populations at risk for mental illnesses. Although Caucasian women experience depression more often, African American and Caribbean women experience a greater severity and persistence. African American women tend to reference their emotions related to depression as evil or acting out. We will also experience feelings of hyperirritability, stress, repetitive harmful impulses, and negativity when becoming depressed. Societal issues also factor into a higher percentage of Black women experiencing depression. Being a female and being African American have been shown to make us more vulnerable to negative attitudes and behaviors. In addition, the pressure to serve not only our families and friends but also others in the community can leave us with the inability to sleep and/or relax. Societies view on what an acceptable body image is supposed to also affect women of color, creating a waterfall of actions. In most cases, depression in women of color goes unseen for a long time. In these cases, the patients often withhold information from their families for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to 1. they cannot afford to appear weak or downtrodden, 2. it may ruin their career, 3. It may hurt their family, and 4. People may think they are crazy. No matter how you may be feeling, the best option when experiencing signs of depression is to seek help immediately!

Depression Symptoms

• Persistently sad or irritable mood

• Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased appetite and weight gain

• Lack of interest in or pleasure from activities that you used to enjoy, including sex

• Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling “slowed down”

• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or remembering

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, pessimism, and helplessness

• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

• Excessive crying

• Pronounced changes in sleep, appetite, or energy

Treatment for Depression

Depression can be treated effectively so that you can live a normal life. Between 80-90% of depression patients can be effectively treated and return to their daily routines and moods. There are two types of treatment for depression: medication and therapy. A person diagnosed with depression can be treated with anti-depressant medication. It takes 2-4 weeks for the medicine to START with anti-depressant medication to have an effect and 6-12 weeks for it to fully take effect. Patients and their families should be cautious during the early stages of medication treatment because normal energy levels and the ability to take action often return before the person’s mood improves. During this short time frame, decisions are easier to make, but depression is still severe, making the risk of suicide increase temporarily. Individuals under the age of 25 have a greater risk of self-harm. The two most common antidepressant medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants or TCA’s. Some doctors may also prescribe MAOIs, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Anti-depressant medications are non-habit forming but are recommended to be continued for AT LEAST 4-9 months after your depressive symptoms have improved.

Therapy is also an efficient treatment for depression patients. Just as with medication, there are few different types of psychotherapy that have proven effective for treatment. Psychotherapy helps teach those with depression better ways of handling problems by talking with a trained mental health professional. Research proves that short-term (defined as 10-20 weeks) courses of therapy are often helpful in treating depression. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses on the patient’s relationships with peers and family members and the way they see themselves. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) concentrates primarily on changing the patient’s negative bias (seeing the cup as half-full rather than half-empty).

While dealing with depression can be a hassle, paying for it can be even more detrimental for a person. If you have an active insurance policy, you can contact your health insurance provider to find out if mental health benefits are included in your plan. Your workplace may have an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) in place that will assist or fully cover therapy sessions or benefits. Medicare pays 50% of the costs for mental health treatment, and Medigap insurance will usually reimburse the remaining balance. Mental illnesses are not appealing to anyone and should never be taken lightly. If you feel as if you have any of the symptoms or know someone who does, it is in the best interest of everyone involved to address the issue immediately. The longer you wait, the longer that person suffers. Get more information regarding mental health at www.mentalhealth.gov xoxo