Black pain : it just looks like we're not hurting : real talk for when there's nowhere to go but up

Black people are dying everywhere we turn, in the faces we see and the headlines we read, and we feel emotional pain, but we don't know how to tackle it— it's time to recognize it and work through our trauma. Terrie had made it: she had launched her own public relations company with such clients as Eddie Murphy and Johnnie Cochran. Yet she was in constant pain, waking up in terror, overeating in search of relief. For thirty years she kept on her game face of success, exhausting herself daily to satisfy her clients' needs while neglecting her own. When she finally collapsed, she had no clue what was wrong or if there was a way out. She learned her problem had a name—depression—and that many suffered from it, limping through their days, hiding their hurt. As she healed, her mission became clear: break the silence of this crippling taboo and help those who suffer, especially in the black community. Black Pain identifies emotional pain—which uniquely and profoundly affects the black experience—as the root of lashing out through desperate acts of crime, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, workaholism, and addiction to shopping, gambling, and sex. Few realize these destructive acts are symptoms of our inner sorrow. In Black Pain , Terrie has inspired the famous and the ordinary to speak out and mental health professionals to offer solutions. The book is a mirror turned on you. Do you see yourself and your loved ones here? Do the descriptions of how the pain looks, feels, and sounds seem far too familiar? Now you can do something about it. The help the community needs is here: a clear explanation of our troubles and a guide to finding relief through faith, therapy, diet, and exercise, as well as through building a supportive network and eliminating toxic people. Black Pain encourages us to face the truth about the issue that plunges our spirits into darkness, so that we can step into the healing light. You are not on the ledge alone. Terrie Williams knows that Black people are hurting. She knows because she's one of them. Terrie had made it: she had launched her own public relations company with such clients as Eddie Murphy and Johnnie Cochran. Yet she was in constant pain, waking up in terror, overeating in search of relief. For thirty years she kept on her game face of success, exhausting herself daily to satisfy her clients' needs while neglecting her own. Terrie finally collapsed, staying in bed for days. She had no clue what was wrong or if there was a way out. She had hit rock bottom and she needed and got help. She learned her problem had a name -- depression -- and that many suffered from it, limping through their days, hiding their hurt. As she healed, her mission became clear: break the silence of this crippling taboo and help those who suffer. Black Pain identifies emotional pain -- which uniquely and profoundly affects the Black experience -- as the root of lashing out through desperate acts of crime, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, workaholism, and addiction to shopping, gambling, and sex. Few realize these destructive acts are symptoms of our inner sorrow. Black people are dying. Everywhere we turn, in the faces we see and the headlines we read, we feel in our gut that something is wrong, but we don't know what it is. It's time to recognize it and work through our trauma. In Black Pain, Terrie has inspired the famous and the ordinary to speak out and mental health professionals to offer solutions. The book is a mirror turned on you. Do you see yourself and your loved ones here' Do the descriptions of how the pain looks, feels, and sounds seem far too familiar' Now you can do something about it. Stop suffering. The help the community needs is here: a clear explanation of our troubles and a guide to finding relief through faith, therapy, diet, and exercise, as well as through building a supportive network (and eliminating toxic people). Black Pain encourages us to face the truth about the issue that plunges our spirits into darkness, so that we can step into the healing light. You are not on the ledge alone Terrie Had Made It: She Had Her Own Company With High-profile Clients--yet She Was In Constant Pain, Waking Up In Terror, Overeating In Search Of Relief. She Finally Collapsed, With No Clue What Was Wrong Or If There Was A Way Out. She Had Hit Rock Bottom And Got Help. She Learned Her Problem Had A Name--depression--and That Many Suffered From It, Limping Through Their Days, Hiding Their Hurt. As She Healed, Her Mission Became Clear: Break The Silence And Help Those Who Suffer. This Book Identifies Emotional Pain--uniquely And Profoundly Affecting The Black Experience--as The Root Of Lashing Out Through Desperate Acts. Terrie Encourages Us To Face The Truth About The Issue That Plunges Our Spirits Into Darkness, So That We Can Step Into The Healing Light. The Help The Community Needs Is Here: A Clear Explanation And A Guide To Finding Relief.--from Publisher Description. Foreword / By Mary J. Blige -- Foreword / By Susan L. Taylor -- Black Blues -- Depression: Not Killing Us Softly -- I'm Not Your Superwoman: Overworked, Undervalued, And Under Pressure -- I Wish It Would Rain: Black Men And Depression -- It's A Hard Knock Life: The Young And The Depressed -- That's What Friends Are For: How Loved Ones Can Help -- A Spiritual Hospital: The Black Church And Depression -- Don't Snap Out Of It! Healing In Your Own Time -- Oh, Lord, Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: Can I Get A Diagnosis? -- I Will Survive: Getting The Healing Done: Therapy, Medication, Alternative Medicine, Exercise, And Spirituality -- Making A Way Out Of No Way -- A Guide To Breaking Our Silence And Getting The Healing Started: We Heal By Sharing! -- Resources For Working Through Your Pain And Staying Strong. Terrie M. Williams. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 299-308) And Index. For thirty years, Terrie Williams hid a constant pain she couldn't identify, waking up in terror, overeating in search of relief, and neglecting herself to serve her high-profile clients' needs. Finally, she collapsed. Then she learned her problem had a name--depression--and that many suffered from it. This emotional pain, which uniquely and profoundly affects the Black experience, is at the root of desperate acts that threaten the community: crime, violence, substance abuse, eating disorders, and addictions. In Black Pain, Terrie shares her own story, inspires others to speak out, and encourages mental health professionals to offer solutions. The help we need is here: a clear explanation of our troubles and a guide to finding relief through faith, therapy, diet, and exercise, as well as through building a supportive network (and eliminating toxic people). Black Pain encourages us to face the truth about the issue that plunges our spirits into darkness, so that we can step into the healing light--Back cover A successful woman entrepreneur addresses the taboo of depression that pervades African-American culture, drawing on her own experiences of suffering and recovery while counseling readers from all walks of life on how to overcome cycles of denial and psychological pain. 150,000 first printing. Terrie Williams' breakthrough book about the devastating spread of depression in the African American community that and how to reverse the tren