mental health stigma

Eating disorders continue to be misunderstood and stigmatized within the Black community. For years, there have been myths about eating disorders affecting only white, affluent, young women. With increasing education and discussion on the subject, it’s becoming more apparent how universal eating disorders are. 

Eating disorders impact people of all genders, races, ethnicities, sexualities, religions, socioeconomic statuses, and other identifiers. 

Eating disorders are equally devastating for everyone. Despite this fact, some people within the Black community misunderstand and downplay the severity of this disease, particularly when it impacts other Black people. 

Freeing a human experience from of the muck of its stereotypes is especially important with something like the schizophrenias.

It was my pattern: if therapy got too intense, if I started feeling better, or if I was referred to a psychiatrist, I’d just stop going. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that I had a mental disorder.

I had become utterly obsessed with the idea that the gene could ignite at any moment within my own body. As if the gene had preconceived notions or could sense a budding anti-establishment humor in me; as if I had already been fitted for the gene and the title to match, heavy indeed and without much say in the matter.