Don't Suffer In Silence... Let Someone Know You Are Depressed

Strong Black Women Are Allowed To Have Depression Too

Nikki Webber Allen was a strong American Black Woman who denied her diagnosis of depression and anxiety because in her mind they signified "weakness" and she felt that she would be letting the generations of strong black men and women who preceded her down if she let anyone know that she struggled with "mental health issues".

In Psychiatry, depression is described as "a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep." (Internet)

In her desire to keep up her end, Webber Allen, felt that her privileged upbringing with loving parents and a good education required that she work extra hard to repress any show of weakness that might bring shame to the hard-working visionary Black leaders and family members who came before her.  To keep the panic and anxiety down, and all the feelings that bubbled in the depression-anxiety pool, Webber Allen buried herself in achievement.  She worked hard and obtained a Master's degree in Media Studies, eventually turning that into two Emmy Awards, fruits of her labour, and surely, signs that she was a highly functional, Strong Black Woman that her forebears would be proud of.

Webber Allen is a role model for those saavy black young men and women coming up behind her.  She was particularly close to a nephew.  Watch the following great TedTalk to find out what turned Webber Allen's life around so that she now promotes talking about her depression and anxiety instead of trying to hide it.  Your comments about this video are welcome below .  If you either talk about your depression openly, or choose not to, your reasons for either approach are interesting to readers.  Can you relate to Webber Allen's decision?