Dear Black Girl,
Growing up, perhaps you felt misunderstood and ignored by those most closest to you. Maybe you felt as if no one loved you nor thought you were important or special. It’s possible that you were told that your thoughts and feelings were not okay or that you were “too sensitive or dramatic.” You may have learned that in order to get attention you to had to be an overachiever (e.g. only straight A’s allowed, Honor Roll).
Fast forward to now. As an adult, you’ve noticed more and more that you feel lonely and disconnected from others, you’re tired all the time, angry, irritated, anxious or depressed. You find it difficult to be vulnerable with others, and yet you are the “therapist” who everyone runs to with their problems. You want to help everyone else, and yet are unwilling to ask for help. You find it hard to identify and acknowledge your feelings as valid and true. Your inner voice is critical and judgmental of your every move, and yet if you heard someone talk that way to your friends you would beat their ass. To top it all off, because of all of that, you can’t sleep, it’s hard to focus, you procrastinate, your stomach is often in knots, your jaw, neck and shoulders are always so tight. Sis, it’s all too much!