The belief that children should be nurtured and protected doesn’t always extend to all children. A report published by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality showed that adults were more likely to assume that black girls were older, more independent, more responsible for their offenses, and more knowledgeable about sex — basically, more adult-like — than white girls of the same age. From a young age many black girls are told not to wear certain clothes, not to be in front of men and are often oversexualzed and called “fast” or other derogatory terms. Black girls who are sexually abused are often led to believe it’s their fault because they’re “too grown”. This is an attitude which is unfortunately believed by many people not only in the Black community but in the larger society.
As early as age 5, many adults perceive Black girls as knowing more about sex and not needing as much nurturing as White girls of the same age. Black women of all ages are generally oversexualized and in the past it was believed that Black women couldn’t be raped. This extends to black girls being told they’re somehow at fault if they are molested. It’s very important to nurture and love Black girls so they don’t grow up thinking they’re not worthy of being loved and cherished. Black girls are just as entitled and deserving of equal treatment and protection as white children. They deserve to just be children.
Approximately 20 % of girls and 10 % of boys have been sexually abused before their 18th birthday. The statistics may be higher as many people don’t tell anyone about being abused as a child. If you were sexually abused it’s possible to heal from the trauma you endured as a child.
Everyone’s healing journey is different. It is important to find someone to talk to about your experiences and feelings, either someone you know and trust, or a therapist.
If you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, know that you are not alone. Many survivors feel that recognizing and speaking about what has happened to them is a vital component in the healing process. It is also important to have positive coping mechanisms in order to cope with flashbacks , memories, triggering situations and days when you feel extra anxious, depressed or overwhelmed. Some healthy coping mechanisms are exercising, journaling, meditation, spending time with safe people, eating comforting foods in moderation and talking to a therapist. Practicing positive self care is very important in the healing process.
Healing can take a long time. Take all the time you need and don;t feel you need to rush or “get over it”. Remember being sexually abused is traumatic and you need to take time and be kind to yourself in order to heal.
Why does it seem like everyone gets to be angry, and be angry publicly, but Black women? Black women are expected be restrained and many of us are made to believe we have to be mindful of our tone and mannerisms because as soon as we speak up, we’re seen as a threat. In order to pacify people, we often become hyper vigilant with our behavior so we won’t be perceived as “The Angry Black Woman.” I’m here to tell you it’s ok to be angry and as Black women there’s plenty for us to be angry about, remember we have to deal with racism, sexism and many other problems, no one should blame us for being angry sometimes.
I’m not suggesting we should walk around in state of perpetual anger and misery, that is very unhealthy for anyone. However if something is upsetting you, express your feelings because holding it in will only make you feel worse and eventually you will let it out and maybe lash out at the person who wasn’t making you angry in the first place.
Holding in your angry can also cause lots of emotional stress and also physical health difficulties. Holding in anger can increase anxiety, depression, your blood pressure and cause you to develop ulcers.
It’s best to express your anger after you’ve had a little time to cool down. Expressing anger when you’re still very upset can cause you to be rageful and that often won’t get your point across. Sometimes it helps to write down why you’re angry or maybe take a step back and count to ten to calm yourself down. Once you’re calmer speak directly to the person you’re upset with, explain why you are angry, explore the ways to fix the problem and suggest a way to prevent a similar thing from happening again.
Remember not holding in your anger can actually help you to live a happier and healthier life.
Friendships have a major impact on your health and well-being, however it’s not always easy to build or maintain friendships.
What are the benefits of friendships?
Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends also help you feel less lonely.
Friends can also:
Increase your sense of belonging and purpose
Boost your happiness and reduce your stress
Improve your self-confidence and self-worth
Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one.
Why is it sometimes hard to make friends or maintain friendships?
Sometimes as adults it’s hard to develop new friendships or keep existing friendships because of increased responsibilities, moving away or just having a busy life. Developing and maintaining good friendships does take some effort. Remember even though it may take effort the comfort of having good friends is worth it.
What are some ways to meet new people?
At social gatherings
At work
At classes
On social media
In order to meet new people, you have to go to places where others are gathered. The more activities you participate in, the more likely you are to meet people. Remember you may not become friends with everyone you meet, but don’t give up.
How can I nurture my friendships?
Be kind. Think of friendship as an emotional bank account. Every act of kindness is a deposit into this account, while criticism and negativity take away from the account.
Listen. Ask what’s going on in your friends’ lives. Let the other person know you are paying close attention to them. When friends discuss difficult experiences, be empathetic, and offer some comfort.
Be Open. Build friendships by opening up about yourself. Being willing to disclose personal experiences and concerns deepens your connection.
Show that you can be trusted. Being reliable and dependable is important in strong friendships. Follow through on plans you’ve made with your friends.
Make yourself available.Make an effort to see and talk to your friends regularly, and to check in with them.
Remember, it’s never too late to build new friendships or reconnect with old friends. Taking time to make new friends and strengthening your old friendships pays off in having a brighter outlook for years to come.
The holidays can be a difficult when you’re trying to stay sober. This is especially true for people who have recently stopped drinking or using drugs. . Here are a few ideas on how to help you with your sobriety during these times.
Meetings
If you attend meetings regularly, keep attending them
The holidays can be a stressful time when trying to “fit in” seeing family, buying gifts and all of your regular activities. But if going to a meeting is helping you stay sober than it is important that you continue going.
A good idea is to have your meetings planned out. That way you can make your schedule around your meetings and be prepared. This makes it much easier to get to all the places you need to without getting stressed out.
Parties
If you plan on attending parties , try to bring a friend who will not be drinking. If you make the decision to attend a holiday party, always remember that you can leave at any time. Don’t worry about hurting someone’s feelings or what people will think.
Seeing the Family
Families are often a trigger for many struggling in sobriety. Make sure your family knows where you stand with your sobriety. If you find yourself struggling, call a sober friend or sponsor and talk to them about it. Don’t ever feel guilty if you feel you need to remove yourself from a family situation. This may be uncomfortable for you in the short term, but it is important to look at the big picture.
Talking to Someone
Talking to someone is always a good idea. No matter what the circumstances, having someone to talk to can change your perspective.
Remove Expectations
The holidays bring with them a variety of expectations, whether they be on you or on someone else. Don’t let these presumptions deter you in any way. You can’t pretend to know anyone else’s situation and you can’t expect them to know yours. Keep it simple and enjoy the season.
Help Someone Else
When you make someone else’s life better, you will be filled with a feeling of joy and purpose. You will be amazed at what this does for your own life.
Enjoy the Season
Try and enjoy what’s going on around you. People are festive this time of year and instead of resisting that feeling, embrace it. Joy spreads.
Stay Away from Things that Recall Bad Memories
This is the time of year for reruns of old movies and Christmas songs that may jar certain feelings. You know what is going to stir up these emotions. Try to stay away from people, places and things which may cause you to use. .
Down Time
The holidays provide a lot of down time. Don’t use these days to dwell, instead try and find a way to help someone else, go to a meeting or do some shopping for yourself or someone else. Find something productive to do with your time.
Use Your Resources
There are many tools at your disposal to stay sober, many of which I listed here, use them. Help is there but you just have to reach out.
Watching TV and movies often gives us the idea of a perfect holiday where everyone gets along and it’s all joyful and peaceful. This is very rarely the case in real life. I’ve complied some tips to help you avoid the almost inevitable holiday drama
1. Don’t expect to heal old wounds
Don’t use holidays as a time to repair old childhood wounds, with difficult family, keep conversation simple. Don’t get drawn into their drama. Don’t apologize or defend yourself. Stay near the people you like and that like you and don’t forget to breathe.
2. Don’t expect people to change
Don’t expect people to be any different from who they are, whatever or whoever irritated you last year, will probably do so this year. Hoping people will be different this year just sets you up for disappointment.
3. Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries
If someone tries to push your buttons, remind yourself not to personalize it. How people act and behave is a reflection of who they are and has nothing to do with you.
4. Plan ahead
Set limits ahead of time about things like how long you might stay at a family function. Try and have some go-to coping strategies in mind before you get there.
5. Control what you can control
Whether your family has hurt you or regularly offends you, try to use holiday time to become an even stronger person. Remember no one can touch your thoughts, so think what you want, laugh to yourself and give yourself compassion.
6. Look for joyful moments
Remember this is real life not a movie. Throw away the idea of achieving perfection, but create moments that are special to you.
Feeling down during the holidays can be hard especially since everyone seems so happy. Believe it or not many people who you seem happy during the holidays are also stressed and depressed. So if the family gatherings, the endless parties, and the shopping get you down, you’re not alone. However people with depression need to be especially careful when coping with holiday stress. . Here are some tips to reduce stress and hopefully find holiday joy.
Finding the Holiday Spirit: Emotions
1. Have modest expectations. Don’t worry about what the holidays are supposed to be like and how you’re supposed to feel. Don’t worry about holiday spirit and take the holidays as they come.
2. Do something different. If the prospect of the usual routine fills you with dread rather than joy try not to surrender to it. Try something different to get into the spirit.
3. Lean on your support system. During the holidays, take time to get together with your support team regularly or at least keep in touch by phone to keep yourself centered.
4. Don’t assume the worst. Don’t start the holiday season anticipating disaster. If you try to take the holidays as they come and limit your expectations you may enjoy them more.5. Forget the unimportant stuff. Don’t run yourself ragged just to live up to holiday tradition. Give yourself a break.
6. Volunteer. Consider taking time to help people who have less than you. Try volunteering at a soup kitchen or working for a toy drive.
Finding the Holiday Spirit: Family
7. Head off problems. Think about what people or situations trigger your holiday stress and figure out ways to avoid them.
8. Ask for help . People may be more willing to help out than you expect; they just need some guidance from you on what to do.
9. Don’t worry about things beyond your control. You can’t control others but you can control your own reaction to the situation.
10. Make new family traditions. While it’s nice to keep old traditions, you can also add new traditions for the holidays.11. Find positive ways to remember loved ones. Holidays will remind you of the loved ones who aren’t around anymore, try to do something to celebrate their memory.
Finding the Holiday Spirit: Parties
12. Don’t overbook. Don’t say yes to every invitation. Think about which parties you really want to attend.
13. Don’t stay longer than you want. Going to a party doesn’t obligate you to stay until the end. Stay as long as you can and leave when you are ready.
14. Have a partner for the party. If the prospect of an office party is stressful, talk to a friend and arrange to arrive and leave together.
Finding the Holiday Spirit: Shopping
15. Forget about the perfect gift. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry about finding the absolute best gift. Remember: everybody likes a gift card.
16. Shop online. Save yourself the inconvenience, the crowds by doing most of your shopping online.
17. Stick to a budget. The cost of holiday shopping can grow very quickly, try to stick to a budget.
Finding the Holiday Spirit: Self-Care
18. Stay on schedule. As much as you possibly can, try to stick with your normal routine during the holidays. Disrupting your schedule can make your mood deteriorate.
19. Exercise. While you may not feel like you have the time to exercise during the holidays, the benefits are worth it.
20. Eat sensibly. When you’re facing a dozen holiday parties and family gatherings between now and New Year’s, it’s hard to stay committed to a sensible diet. But try. . On the other hand, don’t beat yourself up if you go overboard some days. It’s not a big deal. Just get back on track the next day.
21. Try a sun lamp. As the daylight grows shorter, lots of people feel more depressed and sad. A sun lamp may help to improve your mood.
22. Give yourself a break. “The holidays can make some people dwell on their imperfections, their mistakes, the things they’re not proud of,be gentle with yourself. Remember it is the season of kindness and forgiveness, so save some of it for yourself.
As a Black woman, it has been implied to me that because I “spoke so well” and “behaved myself”, I wouldn’t have it as bad as other Black people who “didn’t” however despite all of that, I have faced microaggressions and been called the n word as I walked down the street on my way to lunch. As a woman, I was told to not dress in certain ways so men wouldn’t harass me however I have been cat called on the street even when I was 9 months pregnant.
Respectability politics is a term coined by author and professor Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham in her 1993 book Righteous Discontent The Women’s Movement in the Black Baptist Church, 1880–1920. While the term is relatively new, the concept is old. It is telling an oppressed group that in order to receive better treatment from the group in power, they must behave better.
The practice of respectability politics is a problem because it shifts blame and responsibility from the oppressive group to the oppressed. Respectability politics tells us that the oppressed group must police themselves in order to stop being harmed. This is of course not true because no matter how you carry yourself there is a chance that someone will exhibit racist, sexist or negative behavior towards you. I’m a Black woman who probably would be defined as respectable however I have experienced racism and sexism no matter what I’m wearing or how I’m speaking. Dressing a certain way or speaking a certain way won’t save you so just be yourself.
Do you get anxious when you cannot check your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Social media anxiety is a condition that is similar to social anxiety disorder and is estimated to affect up to 20% of social media users. According to the experts, almost 20% of people with social media accounts cannot go more than three hours without checking them. I used to have difficulty with constantly checking my social media but I have begun to spend less time online and I do feel my anxiety has lessened.
Comparing yourself to others on social media can often lead to anxiety. This is referred as the compare-and-despair factor. Looking at pictures of people on fancy vacations and seeing posts where people seem to be happy and carefree all the time may cause you to feel like your life is boring in comparison. However remember what people post on social media is only a small part of their life, you don’t truly know what’s going on from pictures and posts.
Comparing can also lead to anxiety when it relates to followers or friends. For example, some people are often trying to get the most followers or friends, remember that having lots of friends and followers doesn’t indicate your worth as a person. I recently deleted over 200 people from Facebook.
Another social anxiety sometimes triggered by social media is the fear of missing out, (FOMO). This is “a pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which you’re absent”. This is characterized by “a desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing”.
While there is nothing wrong with using social media, it is important to not neglect other areas in your life to be on Facebook, Twitter, etc. A good technique is to set a specific amount of time when you will be on, for example 30 minutes per day. Also if you delete the apps from your phone, you will probably spend less time on social media sites. Cutting down can be difficult at first but once you do, you may find your anxiety lessened and you will also spend more time with others outside of the internet.
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons for women to seek therapy. For Black women, anxiety is often more chronic and the symptoms more intense than white women.
To understand anxiety and Black women, you need to understand how Black women are viewed. There are three basic images which we see of Black women, the Strong Black Woman, the Angry Black Woman, and the Overly Sexual Black woman.. These images affect how other people see Black women and how we see ourselves. They also play a role in the development of anxiety.
Strong Black Women -There are some positive aspects about being a Strong Black Woman, but there are also many negatives. A Strong Black Woman will keep going even when she knows she should stop, this places her mental and physical health at risk.
An Angry Black Woman is perceived as a woman who is always ready to “cuss” you out. I have found that many women who are perceived this way are actually very anxious. The anger is often an outward expression of their discomfort with the negativity associated with anxiety.
The Overly Sexual Black Woman used to be referred to as a Jezebel, which comes from the Biblical Queen who was said to have turned her husband against God. Since slavery, Black women have been sexualized in derogatory ways Today this is often seen in rap and hip-hop videos.
Social Anxiety
In workplaces, college and professional settings around the country, Black women often find themselves to be the only one. In these situations, we have often been taught that we have to be twice as good, that we are representing the race and that we are being watched more closely than our white counterparts. These beliefs along with the Strong Black Woman image often increases the risk for social anxiety.
PTSD
The rate of sexual assault among Black women is reported to be 3.5 times higher than that of any other group in this country. Black women are also less likely to report their assault. Many never share with anyone what has happened to them. The trauma will remain untreated and the symptoms will worsen.
Racism is another form of trauma that affects Black women. Trauma in the form of racism can be directly or indirectly experienced. Driving while Black, shopping while Black, and racial micoraggressions are direct examples of racial trauma. Indirect examples are videos of unarmed Black women and men being killed.
Thankfully, the stigma associated with seeking help for anxiety and other mental health issues is disappearing. Remember that with the help of a good therapist you can reclaim your life from anxiety. I was able to reclaim my life and so can you.
Transforming Lives 