Trauma In African America

For Black people, race is a never-ending conscious component of life in America. We live in a country with a history of slavery that, once ended, extended into an institution and system of laws; Jim Crow, that continue to keep members of the Black community “othered” and invisible. The threefold purpose of this writing is to discuss how the treatment of African-American patients engaging in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytically informed psychotherapy - as they exist today - fails to meet their full potential in the healing of the Black psyche; and to consider how the training curriculum can be expanded to include writings of Black psychoanalysts; and to encourage the analytic community to be opened up to include more analysts of

One example of Boricevic Marsanic and their colleagues is, “Children of male veterans have a higher chance of attempting suicide” (Boricevic Marsanic et. al.).This quote explains how the disorder affects children who may never have a traumatic experience in their life. The disorder has mental effects on all the people associated, the veteran, their family, friends, everybody. Another example of how PTSD affects children and teens is “The presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in trauma survivors has been linked with family dysfunction and symptoms in their children, including lower self-esteem, higher disorder rates, and symptoms resembling those of the traumatized parent” (Mellor et. al.). Mellor and the other authors of this article in an Australian magazine express how children tend to have more problems internally. The quote also states how the children may even have symptoms the parent with PTSD had, which means that it could cause problems for the child without them even having a traumatic moment in their

The study of psychology refers to collective trauma as the effect experienced by many people in the aftermath of a tragedy or event. The pain of collective traumatic disorders is common among soldiers who experienced military combat, but has the potential to affect an entire community. Although, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can alter relationships with the family and the community, future generations will not have to endure combat directly to experience collective trauma. Many Veterans suffering from PTSD might shy away from others due to stigmas associated with the diagnosis. Some might have difficulty concentrating, or have guilty feelings, cannot find work, feel helpless, fearful, or have a loss of interest in usual activities. All

When living with PTSD, there are outbreaks of panic and intense thoughts that relate to the event. (Parekh) These come from flashbacks and nightmares that lead to sadness, fear, anger, and a feeling of detachment. “But at night some of us would wake up from nightmares, sweating, screaming, and punching our own heads to drive out the images that continued to torment us even when we were no longer asleep.” (Beah 148) A diagnosis comes from exposure to an event that causes the victim enough trauma to have these types of episodes. These children soldiers are exposed to a large amount of violence within common massacres and village raids, desensitizing them to the act, and not be aware of the acts. Everything these kids go through in war leaves them with many traumatic memories that lead to PTSD, causing harsh flashbacks and nightmares that lead to hurting themselves and

Cross’ book Shades of black: diversity in African-American identity (1991) depicts a perceived metamorphous of black identity through five stages of development—his ideologies are now termed as the Nigrescence theory. In simple terms, this philosophy refers to the process of becoming Black. It also demonstrates daily struggles that the black community may have in developing a healthy personal identity. Over the years, many authors attempt to define what the word black means. Eventually, many came to begin using the politically acceptable term widely applied today to regard black people; that word is known as Negroes. As different historical events occurred, one being the black power revolution on the 1970’s the experience called for a fresh definition of the term negro. Blacks or Africans in America began to be more conscious of their identity and more aware of the differences separating them. This is the experience that Cross (1971) illustrates and is primarily referenced in his five-stage progress including: pre-encounter, encounter, immersion/emersion, internalization, and internalization-commitment. This book highlights some very vital topics relating to mental health, which has been carefully disregarded by other researchers. Nonetheless, it has strong affiliations to the black experience and can positively explain a more normal psychological behavior through logical and very thought provoking

African American communities have proven to be a powerful force when banded together in a common goal to prosper in a world where they have not always been accepted. These communities are characterized as being formidable, inspirational, resilient, independent and made to endure the impossible. However, these same communities have experienced extreme difficulties, challenges and hardships, including the critical yet silent battle with mental health. Culturally, African American families tend to underestimate mental illnesses instead of consulting professional services. Socially, there is a score of stigmas and negative attitudes towards mental illnesses amongst the Black community. Economically, the African American communities that are

Since the first African slaves were brought to America in 1619, life for African Americans has been a struggle. During the time of slavery, blacks were treated just like animals. They were the property of their owners and only received what their masters deemed necessary. Because of this, blacks received little health care and had to survive off of the scraps they were given. As time went on, African Americans learned how to adapt to their surrounds. They made the best meals they could from the food they had, and made medicine from the plants and resources that they had. However, as African Americans made the most of what they had, European Americans had ample resources to grow and prosper on this land. They were able to purchase land, food,

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) was stablished by Congress in 2000 and brings a comprehensive focus to childhood trauma. This network raises the average standard of care and improves access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States. The NCTSN defines trauma‑focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF‑CBT) as an evidence‑based treatment approach that is shown to help children, adolescents, and their caregivers overcome trauma‑related difficulties. It is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses following a traumatic event. The treatment addresses distorted beliefs related to the abuse and provides a supportive environment so the individual can talk about their traumatic experience. TF‑CBT also helps parents cope with their own emotional issues and develop skills to support their children.

I never really thought of Latino problems in depth, I only used to think of the hardships that African Americans have to face on a day to day basis. After reading this excerpt, I understand that African Americans are not the only race that feel like they are being oppressed. Just like the black community, latinos are set up by the government to live a certain life. They grow up in these areas where they are set up to be gangsters, or at least not to succeed in society. In these colored communities, there is not as many resources, such as books, to keep their kids academically occupied. They have to resort to putting their kids in front of the TV to keep them busy, which is not helping them grow at all. One of the reasons they do not have these

It is through the field of psychology that I have become concerned about the societal issues that surround the African American community. Psychology has intrigued me extraordinarily that it has become one of my many objectives to dismiss the stigmatization of mental health within the African American community. It Is my objective to develop approaches for those who are affected by mental health to find it easier to stand up and speak out about their mental health concerns. With this, it will be less of a struggle for them to receive the psychological assistance they may need. Furthermore, it is my objective to advance social change within the communities of ethnic

Some of the trauma that children and adolescents experience or witness may consist of sexual abuse, neglect, maltreatment, violence, physical abuse, vehicular accidents, and crimes. As previously mentioned these traumatic events may cause PTSD and other common comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, and possibly aggressive or impulsive behavior. To better understand how TF-CBT treatments help, it may be useful to understand what exactly PTSD is, and what it looks like in children and adolescents. According to the DSM-IV (2013), PTSD consists of persistent re-experiencing of the trauma experienced, avoidance of traumatic reminders such as certain people, places, and conversations, a general numbing of emotional responsiveness, and chronic physiological hyper arousal. Generally children with PTSD characteristically look different than adults whom are suffering from PTSD. The National Center for PTSD article displayed by the U.S. Department

As a young Black girl I internalized the trauma and repress my despondent feelings. What my silence meant to the world is she must be okay, because she not a danger to herself or anybody else. I wished my parents had spoken to me despite the fact they believed I was too young to understand. I may not have been old enough to understand the terminology of trauma and pain, however I was old enough to experience it. Research has shown girls have more of a tendency to internalize trauma, by dissociation and feeling powerless, which is often too difficult to identify.

During the last decade, direct work with children experiencing trauma, has led to the recognition that classifications of PTSD in children are relevant to childhood psychopathology. These relied upon the evaluation of parents, teachers and other surviving adults; children were not asked what they thought and felt, is the major hindrance to a more sophisticated understanding. Adult psychopathology often may be linked with unrecognized or underestimated effects of psycho logical trauma during childhood and adolescence. Often, neither parents nor various professionals working with children know what problematic disruptive situation the child is facing, which may if continue worsen their existence over time. Working on this, study of some vital

Mya grew up in a small, racist environment all her life. She was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. Mya mother gave birth to her at the Tuskegee Institute Hospital. The Tuskegee Institute was the first hospital blacks, african americans could go to. Growing up Mya also stayed in and out of the hospital. Mya mother, Lisa, has never been able to just go to work after her daughter was born because Mya heart has given her difficulties. Doctors constantly told them that she wasn’t going to make it and if she was she wasn’t going to make it to see 21. Receiving the news lisa informed her ex husband which was her husband at the time , she informed him about the difficulties throughout life that their daughter would and could possibly go through

In working with adults who have been victimized I have seen firsthand how adverse childhood experiences can in many of the cases play a significant role in their functioning as adults. As such I can see why those experiences, often never sought services for, can lead to disorders in adulthood or in this case continued victimization. The ACE study showed a significant association between childhood experiences and the development of mental health in adulthood. For this reason I agree with much of this week’s readings that inclusion of development traumatic disorder in the DSM as beneficial. Due to challenges of understanding behavior and thoughts of children, traditional described symptoms of PTSD to not account for this. In addition, as noted