Racial trauma may be individual to one person, or an entire community may experience it simultaneously.
Events such as the killing of George Floyd, for example, were traumatic for Black people.
This trauma was heightened by the constant media exposure and explicit images of harm done to Black individuals.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Such events also contribute to uncertainty about safety and add to existing distrust of law enforcement.
That is known as complex PTSD orC-PTSD.
Research has found that perceived discrimination plays a significant role in health disparities linked to chronic stress among BIPOC.
This includes an increased risk for diabetes, hypertension, and adverse birth outcomes.
While depression and anxiety can be symptoms of PTSD, they can also exist on their own.
Both have strong negative impacts on a person’s well-being and daily life.
Racial trauma can impact every facet of life, reducing one’s quality of living significantly.
Racism can also make it more difficult to access treatment for mental health conditions that stem from racial trauma.
These tools and strategies can help people cope and reduce symptoms.
Connect With Others
Finding community and communing with others can help you heal from racial trauma.
There are very few BIPOC, if any, whose lives have been free of discrimination or racial harassment.
Self-Care
Practicingself-carecan dramatically improve a person’s sense of well-being.
Self-care acts can be simple and free or elaborate and complex.
You could take a walk in nature, soak in a dimly lit bath, orget yourself a massage.
You could write in a journal, or practice meditating.
Specifically, it may help you to find atrauma-informed therapistwho can understand what you’ve gone through.
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American Psychological Association.Uncovering the trauma of racism.
2018;59(4):466-485. doi:10.1177/0022146518814251
Taylor J.Racism, Inequity, and Health Care for African Americans.
December 19, 2019.
American Psychological Association.Fact sheet: Health disparities and stress.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Black/African American.
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2020;46(2-3):95-121. doi:10.1177/0095798420929468
