When I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and given an antidepressant, I immediately felt one emotion: shame.
When I picked it up from the pharmacy, I thought: why was I so unable to deal with my anxiety by myself? Why had I let it get so out of control?
But the truth is, taking medication for your mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and it is a great step towards taking control of your mental health.
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Stigma Around Medications Isn’t New
Millions of Black adults are living with mental illness. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America says that more than 7 million Black adults are living with mental health conditions, and new research is showing that Black adults are 20% more likely to experience a mental illness.
But many of us may also feel shame, frustration, or embarrassment about our new diagnoses and the medications we take to control them, just like I did.
These feelings most likely come from the negative attitudes that our cultures, religions, families, and larger society have towards mental illnesses and medications.
Some of us might feel like our need for medication is a personal failing, or that our mental illness should be controlled with something more socially acceptable, like religion, better sleep, or exercise.
But sometimes these things don’t work on their own. And that’s okay. That’s where medications come in, to make you feel more in control of your well-being.
Don’t Let Stigma Stop Your Medication from Helping You
If you’ve started taking medication, here are some things I think you should consider on your new journey. They helped me, and I think they could help you, too:
- Normalize your medication. Remember that there are millions of Black women out there just like you, who live with a mental health disorder and take medication to support them through their day. It’s no different from taking any other medication for any other health condition. There’s nothing to feel ashamed about.
- Ask questions. Ask your health care provider for more information about your diagnosis, or use online mental health resources for information, like Therapy For Black Girls or the National Alliance on Mental Health. If you’re still unsure about your new medication, ask your health care provider why they prescribed it, what side effects to expect, and any other questions you might have.
- Give it time. Most medications take a few weeks to start working, so give it some time. There are also so many different types of medications, so if one doesn’t work after a few weeks, ask your health care provider to try a new one.
- Invest in self-care. Taking your new medication is a big part of self-care, but it’s important to include other forms of self-care in your daily routine, too. If you created a routine before you started taking your medication, keep doing it. If you didn’t, think about small, actionable steps you can take every day to clear your mind and keep you grounded. For me, this looked like going on morning walks, replacing coffee with tea, and putting time limits on my social media apps.
- Share your story. If you feel safe, talk about your mental health and new medication with the people you trust. Sharing your story with others might make you feel more comfortable with your new medication.
- Celebrate your progress. Every step you take towards prioritizing your mental wellness is a big deal! Take pride in how far you’ve come and the strength you’ve shown in taking charge of your mental well-being.
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Have you been diagnosed with a mental illness or prescribed a new medication? How did you feel about it? What has helped you add your new medication to your routine? Leave a comment below to share your story.
CITATIONS:
Finegan, A. (2019, February). Mental Health Medications | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. Www.nami.org. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatment/Mental-Health-Medications/What-to-Expect-From-Your-Medications
Mental Health Resources for the Black Community | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). Adaa.org. https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/black-african-american-communities
Rössler, W. (2016). The stigma of mental disorders. EMBO Reports, 17(9), 1250–1253. https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201643041
Vance, T. (2019, February 8). Addressing Mental Health in the Black Community. Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/addressing-mental-health-black-community#:~:text=Research%20Surrounding%20the%20Black%20Community