Cope Queens

"There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds." - Laurell K. Hamilton

African Americans are living with carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. They are vulnerable, stressed, and anxious. Depression does not discriminate. 

In episode 1, The Depressing Truth, Elaina and Tracy discussed some common fallacies about depression in the African American community, which is crippled by mental health stigmas preventing those who need support from seeking it. Elaina and Tracy also shared their personal experiences with depression and anxiety. 

They took a deep dive into the world of depression and discussed their personal experiences and challenges. They discuss the consequences they both have faced as being black and depressed. Their journeys have been long and often challenging, but they have found ways to cope through it.

Elaina addresses the stigma and attitudes around depression when it comes to African Americans communities. And what she hopes to see going forward in the future.

They discussed the implications and impacts of racism, prejudice, economic issues. 

It seems like carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. Now that's not to say that there aren't other races and ethnicities and religions that are out there that experience some of the same things, but there's only so a person can handle. And it is stressful when you can't go to a corner store without being fearful. That's stress, that's anxiety that we are facing daily.

Going to therapy is a real challenge for a lot of African Americans, as this is not how we do things. Like you don't lay on somebody's couch and go whine about your problems. You're taught that you will handle it.

Prayers give us the strength that we can get through it or the hope that we really can get through it, but we still need to take action. We need to cope with this situation with a strategy.

Elaina and Tracy express how we are not alone and reference the book "Black Pain" by Terry M. Williams.

Their message to the African Americans communities is that depression and other mental health impairments do not discriminate. These disruptions don’t care about your age, your race, your religion, your gender, your gender identity, your sexual orientation. None of us are immune, and none of us must suffer in silence. 

We are a community together. And we can learn how to support each other, and we can be there for each other. Sometimes you need somebody that gets it, and so I encourage all of you to learn more and be a resource for someone else. Be a support for someone else, be an advocate and a warrior for yourself.

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