Openly Broken: The Beginning

How It All Began:

Things were not going good in my life. But the funny thing is that things were never all that great but somehow I’d managed to keep a smile on my face everyday. My motto was: this is a new day let’s make the most out of it. And I truly felt that way.  And then one day I didn't. And then the next day I was

okay. And then two days I felt hope-less and didn't want to get out of bed, and then the next few days I was fine. It finally got to where days would go by and I didn't want to eat. I hated to see the sun peaking through the curtains of my window. I needed help but I didn't recognize it. I just kept thinking that one day I would get up and shake this feeling but days went by and I felt the same.

I finally reached out to a friend who introduced me to a therapist. That moment my life changed. Because of those sessions I had with my therapist I

was able to discover some things about myself. I had someone I could talk honestly with without fear of judgment and ridicule.

The Birth Of "Openly Broken"

After months of healing I ran into an old friend name Xaviera who was gathering some women together to write this book about difficult times in their lives and how they got through them.  The Exodus Project is what she called it. 

“My journey to Exodus: How my pain produced promise.” It was for me, I knew that immediately and I really wanted to be a part of this awesome movement, but was I ready?  Was I ready to share with the world one of the most vulnerable and miserable life experiences?  Well, I told her I was ready even though I still had my doubts.  The women writing the book were all over the United States so we conference called each other.  It was something so refreshing about all of us coming together sharing our worse moments.  It was healing for me and I heard some of them say the same thing.  These calls pushed me to be as open and as honest about my experience with depression. 

African-American Women and Depression

While writing “Openly Broken” I began researching depression and I was surprised at what I discovered. According to the ADAA, “Persistent depressive disorder, or PDD, (formerly called dysthymia) is a form of depression that usually continues for at least two years and affects approximately 1.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.” Even more so were the horrific facts I learned about African American and minority women when it comes to depression. After reading just a few articles on the subject I began to find many similarities with my-self and many other women I call friends and family.

“Black women are among the most undertreated groups for depression in the nation, which can have serious consequences for the African-American community.” So why are Black women the most undertreated when it comes to depression? This is a subject I intend to explore over the course of 2016.

What Can We Do???

While researching this subject of African-American women and depression I found a few organizations and a few people who have dedicated themselves to the cause but there are not nearly enough awareness. Sadly, many Black women still live life, meaning: work, attend church, go to school, raise children all while suffering from depression and in some cases major depression. A lot of these women are unaware. Those who are aware don’t know what to do or that they can do anything about it.

This is where you come in. I’m looking for partners that will help raise awareness of the effects of depression in the African American woman’s life and how it affects the community.

Many people fail to realize the impact women play in the community. They are our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, teachers, Sunday school teachers, neighbors, professionals. They encourage us, love us, hug us, comfort us, and teach us but what about them? Whose loving them?

Partnership

Everyone may want to help and there are a number of ways that you can. Over the course of 2016 I will be conducting my own extensive research into the effects of depression in the African American community with the major focus being African

American women. I’m going to be looking for women that will be a part of this study. I’m going to reach out to different organizations that are specifically trained to help women that need it. I’m also going to publish a book that will be released in 2017. If you would like to help contribute in any way to this movement it would be greatly appreciated.