July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to shed light on the unique struggles and challenges of people of color living with mental illness. We at OCD Gamechangers believe in highlighting those with first-hand experience. This week we interviewed Cyrene, a Black woman living with OCD. Cyrene is an amazing advocate for the Black, OCD, and chronic illness communities, and you can follow her on her Instagram, @diaryofachrohnie_. Below is her interview:
1) According to Katz et al. (2020), the prevalence of OCD among all demographics is roughly equal, however people of color are more likely to be misdiagnosed and undertreated. Has being a person of color affected your diagnosis and treatment journey? If so, how?
My fear about discrimination was one of the things that delayed me reaching out for help when I was struggling. Each time I go to therapy again I have to worry that the therapist will treat me badly because of my race, which is one of the reasons why when I got the opportunity to choose my own therapist to do trauma therapy, I specifically chose a Black woman.
Taking medication for mental illness is also something that is heavily stigmatized in some cultures and this has definitely had an impact on my willingness to get this kind of help for either of the mental illnesses I have. There is a lot of shame attached to this and even though I support and encourage other people’s use of medication, I’ve found it very difficult to allow myself to get this type of help.
Even therapy is heavily stigmatized in some communities. The idea of “allowing someone into your head” is frowned upon, and the idea of needing someone else’s help for mental struggles isn’t understood. I experienced shame for a long time when I first attended therapy at age 17, but I’ve grown to learn that there is nothing to be ashamed of and it’s so freeing.
2) What specific experiences have you had at the intersection of being a person of color with OCD?
I think I felt more shame than I should have because in general, mental illnesses have increased stigma attached to them when you’re a person of color. I felt a lot of shame to tell my extended family about it (and I still haven’t explicitly told them) because I know that it’s not spoken about or seen as a real illness sometimes. Although I’m no longer ashamed of any of the illnesses I struggle with, I still find conversations surrounding it difficult sometimes.
I also want to highlight the added fear that I will be treated even worse when displaying mental illnesses symptoms, whether in public or in a clinical setting, as a result of being Black. All people of color have to worry about being treated badly by others because of their race, all mentally ill people have to worry about being treated badly because of their mental illnesses, and dealing with the worry of both is very difficult.
3) Has racism affected your OCD presentation/symptoms? If so, in what ways?
Racism on social media and reported on the news and other TV programs increased my avoidance behaviors at one point. Being exposed to these reports caused increased intrusive thoughts surrounding my dad being targeted specifically, and sometimes in the moment it’s easier to just avoid it.
As the treatment for OCD involves stopping compulsions like avoidance and facing those fears, I’ve had to add the extra step of working out which parts are OCD and which parts are just a general concern for my well-being and not wanting to be exposed to these reports.
4) What advice do you have for other people of color struggling with OCD?
There is help out there. The increased stigma in some communities can sometimes cause additional barriers to reaching out for help. But there is help out there for you and it is so worthwhile. Reach out to the online community if you are not getting the support or understanding you need from those around you.
There are resources that can help those around you better understand what it is that you’re struggling with so that you don’t have to talk too much about it if it’s too painful or stressful.
You are not a bad person for having intrusive thoughts no matter what the contents, you’re not a bad person for having OCD no matter the theme, and you’re not a bad person for having a mental illness no matter what.
Please speak out about it as much as you feel comfortable to do, which will then encourage other people of color to do the same. Raise awareness of what OCD is, even if you just educate those around you. We need to break down the misunderstandings, stigma, and shame attached to mental illnesses somehow, and I think we need more people of color speaking publicly about their experiences. We need to show each other that we’re not alone.
5) Is there anything else you’d like to add on this topic?
I think it’s really important for us to explore the differences of OCD presentation in different cultures. Something that may look like a compulsion to one culture may just be a cultural ritual to someone else. Depending on traditions, belief systems, etc., people can experience additional barriers to seeking and accepting help. There are many differences between cultures and that should be considered more in clinical settings.
I also believe it’s essential that people from all backgrounds train to be therapists so that everyone can have a chance to have a therapist that is culturally sensitive in a way that people from other cultures may not be able to be.
And I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to speak out on this topic!
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Cyrene!
Maya Todross
Author
