In 2013, David Young* hit rock bottom. A year into a generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis, he battled panic attacks every hour, every day. He also suffered from migraines, insomnia and agoraphobia. And due to anxiety-related gastrointestinal issues, he dropped from 190 to 125 pounds. “I was watching him die before my eyes,” his mom, Jennifer, recalls. “I felt helpless and hopeless.”
Growing up, David was very independent, exhibiting no mental health symptoms. Then, at 25, debilitating panic attacks at work pushed him to move from Massachusetts to his parents’ home in New York. Jennifer says, “I told him, ‘Come home.’ I thought he could take a break and get better.”
For months, David, accompanied by his parents, frantically sought answers. He visited general physicians, gastroenterologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, and emergency rooms. Test results came back normal, and he was labelled a hypochondriac. Attempts to find psychological help also failed. “It was a depressing time, with no seeming end to my suffering.”
Finally, he found a hospital with a psych ward. Jennifer hoped his stay would be transformative, as “[his anxiety] was a stressful, everyday, every hour thing.” She’d also lost weight and rest, trying to support by phone while working as a nurse and on her off days. After a rough start, he did have a breakthrough.
David says, “I encountered a psychiatrist who validated everything I was feeling. She showed me in a book how anxiety could impact the body. She said, ‘As you work on reducing your anxiety, physical symptoms will also reduce.’ That validation significantly lowered my anxiety and got me ready to work.”
After a 10-day stay, the hospital referred him to a clubhouse, where he received group and individual counseling and life skills training 30 hours a week. Within a year, David considered himself on the road to recovery and was medication free. In 2015, he got peer counseling certification–i.e., counseling by someone with a mental health diagnosis—and began working part-time.
Today, he works full-time in peer counseling—after being declared medically unable to work in 2015— offering others the validation needed to avoid “the confusion, misinformation and misunderstanding” he experienced “from medical professionals and others.”
David’s battle with anxiety is not uncommon, as more than 40 million adults (19.1%) suffer from an anxiety disorder. Columbia University research suggests that Black Americans are 20% more likely than the general population to suffer from serious mental health issues, including generalized anxiety. However, they are less likely to access mental health services. Systemic racism, socioeconomic disparities and stigma around accessing mental health services may all factor into the Black mental health crisis. And for Black men, there’s an additional layer of stigma based on Black masculinity stereotypes that discourage vulnerability and help-seeking.
For David, and others, validation from medical professionals makes a huge difference. Family support is also critical. Jennifer says, “I didn’t always know what to do, but I was there. I just listened and tried to help.” She offers this advice based on her struggles: 1) “listen and don’t minimize what they’re feeling”; 2) “get them professional help”; and 3) “get counseling to know how to support.” Reflecting on his healing and mental health advocacy, she says, “I’m proud of him.”
David now employs several coping mechanisms to minimize the effects of anxiety on his life. These include nutrition and exercise, prayer and meditation, breathing exercises, journaling, and music. He’s also drastically reduced his TV and movie intake.
Finally, David relies on his faith. “Our Creator didn’t make a mistake when He made us. Knowing this brings hope in dark times. He never gives us a problem without providing a solution. So when we seek Him first, and often, He’ll provide the resources we need to get well.”
*All names in this piece are pseudonyms.
