A must-read, high in demand, detailed look at OCD from a Black Woman's view! A day in the life of a Black Woman with OCD...
If you were to search on Amazon today (2019) for a book that helps Black Women cope with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), you would find everything BUT! Searching the terms "OCD for Black Women" or "OCD for Women of Color"... nothing! Why? Because there is little to none research or help/assistance for Women of Color in regards to OCD. Perhaps it is because of the culture of Black Women to "keep quiet", "speak when spoken to", "what happens in this house stays in this house", "stop whining and complaining"... does any of this sound familiar? Or perhaps it is the feeling that OCD leaves behind... embarrassed, ashamed, frustrating, agitated...
My name is Dionne Murphy and I suffer with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I used to think I was all alone in my suffering until I started to do my research in my quest for answers. What I found was that 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 kids suffer with OCD. This alarming statistic assures me that I am not alone. The real problem is that OCD, especially in African American women, is often misdiagnosed, if diagnosed at all, and rarely, if ever, spoken of.
The culture of Women of Color has from the beginning of time taught us to hold things in, keep secrets, and trust no one. That type of attitude stems from years of abuse and/or trauma. Mental illness in the African American community as a whole is something that is rarely spoken of, let alone studied by experts. So when we look for help, it is rather difficult to find.
I want to share with you some truths about mental illness in the African American Community so that whether you are dealing with OCD, or some other mental illness, you know that you are NOT alone in your journey... and it's okay to get help.
