CXXVI: Therapeutic Intervention, Part Two - The Stigma
Although the negative stigmas attached to therapy and counseling seem to be slowly dying away, there is still a bit of inquisition when therapy is mentioned. There is still an overly empathetic, “But you look fine”, or “I thought you were okay” attached to many ‘I’m Starting Therapy’ announcements.
CULTURALLY, THERE ARE BIG DIFFERENCES IN ACCEPTANCE.
There are significant levels of acceptance across different cultures. Where one culture seems to push their family members into therapeutic intervention, another culture ignores therapy completely. Where one culture instead emphasizes the importance of prayer to fix all problems, another culture will suggest simply working harder to keep themselves distracted over therapy.
Culturally, for me, therapy is not a first stop!
As a growing African American woman, we are raised to simply lean on the church and our Aunties! If therapy is ever even mentioned, it is simply to note that ‘we don’t need therapy, we just need a whoopin’, church or a nap’. The problem is that we are being told these things in addition to dealing with a couple of the burdens displayed in the video below.
We’re hurdled with pressures that I’m not even sure our parents realize they are placing on us before we can even truly begin our lives and a lot of the times, we don’t even see this as a problem. We’ve normalized these things and that is a huge problem.
Dealing with a culture that has such ideas about therapy while also seeing the burdens placed on the backs of young Black boys and girls seems like a huge, disproportionate system that just isn’t working.
Imagine the relief that can be felt if allowed to simply get to the root of these very burdens that we carry, sometimes without even knowing it.
THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO SEEKING HELP.
It is okay to ask for help.
It is okay to admit that you do not have all of the answers.
It is okay to hurt.
It is okay to fail.
It is okay to fall.
You are allowed to be human.
So much about society says that you are weak if you ever reach a point where you need help and that is so wrong. There are aspects and parts to life that simply cannot be attacked alone. You could be the most independent person (in your own mind), but life has a way of breaking you down so much that you’re unable to get out of it alone. In these cases, asking for help is that answer.
In my opinion, asking for help makes you a million times stronger than sitting up and hurting in silence.
NEEDING HELP DOESN’T MAKE YOU CRAZY.
The things and experiences that build up in your mind and manifest over time do not go away simply because you will them away. Sometimes, all you need to do is have that conversation. Other times knowing that the person that you are releasing to is there to listen is the perfect amount of comfort that you aren’t getting from other areas of your life. You are not crazy for needing to make it make sense in your mind. You are not crazy for needing to talk it out.
Overall, there are so many NEGATIVES attached to therapy and counseling that simply shouldn’t be. The more that you push thoughts and feelings back and the more that you shy away from expressing yourself in a completely neutral setting, the less growth you will be able to achieve.
Step over the stigma and get to therapy! Let’s Be Active.