Coping With Anxiety As A Person of Color
Anxiety is one of the most common conditions in black communities and for other people of color. Unfortunately, it’s also often stigmatized, along with other mental health issues. That underlying stigma can keep people of color (POC) from getting the help they need and deserve.
Coping with anxiety as a person of color isn’t something that should ever be put on the back burner. Anxiety is often very manageable, but only with the right kind of help and strategies in place.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what you can do as a POC if you’re dealing with anxiety.
Understand the Symptoms
The first step in coping with anxiety is to understand what it looks like. Symptoms can vary in severity, but anxiety is much more than just occasional worrying. Rather, it can feel like an extreme, debilitating fear or sense of impending doom that doesn’t go away.
Some of the common signs of anxiety include:
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Restlessness
Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
Worrying about impending danger
Even though anxiety is a mental health condition, some of the symptoms can manifest themselves physically. You might experience shakiness, shortness of breath, and a rapidly beating heart. Anxiety causes you to feel like you’re in danger or you need to be on guard, so your body reacts accordingly.
What Causes Anxiety in POC?
Anxiety doesn’t discriminate or target certain groups of people. There are countless causes that can trigger it, including trauma or abuse, a family history of mental health issues, or even certain medical conditions. But, people of color might be more susceptible to additional risk factors. If you’ve been exposed to racism or you live in a community you feel isn’t safe, it can trigger anxiety.
Additionally, POC might have fewer opportunities for education, career paths, and even growth. If you feel “stuck” in an unsafe community and you’re worried you can’t get out and do the things you’re passionate about, it can lead to feelings of anxiety and fear.
Mental Health Stigmas
Unfortunately, people of color often are listed as having a higher rate of anxiety not because they’re any different from anyone else but because of the stigma often associated with mental health in POC communities.
Many POC families believe that mental health issues are a sign of weakness. So, even if you don’t necessarily believe that you might be afraid or ashamed to seek help or even admit that you’re struggling.
Some people of color might also worry that if they do seek out professional help, they will be stereotyped, or racism will rear its ugly head and cause them to be viewed as unstable or dangerous.
What Can You Do?
If you’re experiencing any of the signs of anxiety, don’t hesitate to take care of yourself and get the help you deserve.
On a daily basis, you can do things to help with symptom management. Start with self-care practices like prioritizing sleep, eating healthy, and exercising. Consider writing in a journal whenever you’re feeling anxious. Sometimes, simply getting your thoughts out on paper will keep them from becoming worse in your mind.
Ultimately, you shouldn’t have to deal with anxiety alone. Therapy is often the best way to not only learn how to manage it, but to have a better idea of where it stems from. Learning the root cause(s) of your anxiety will eventually help you overcome it.
Finally, don’t hesitate to lean on others for support. Even if you feel like you can’t open up about your anxiety with friends and family, there are support groups strictly for POC that can help you address your mental health and recognize that there are others going through the same things.
Reach out to learn more about anxiety therapy.
