Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: An Intellectual Comparison to PTSD and How Slavery affects us today
- Brooke Taylor
- Jan 24, 2022
- 7 min read
Overview
The topic of mental illness has been taboo for many years among black people. However, it recently became normalized for members of the black community to discuss mental illness or their need for therapy. For generations, black people suffered silently from several undiagnosed diseases. These illnesses are often caused by trauma directly or indirectly inflicted on them. As we embark on a new year, we must reflect on ourselves, our happiness, and our future. A part of that reflection is setting new goals, building stronger connections, and evaluating our mental health. For centuries the mental health of black people was a non-existent component of who we are as individuals. It is clear that if we intend on elevating as a people, we must continue the discussions that will heal us.
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome(PTSS) has lived within millions of us and has been passed down to the unfortunate offspring of those who were released from physical bondage and transformed into mental slaves. Unfortunately, controlling one’s mind is far more detrimental than controlling their body. After studying Dr. Joy Degruy and reading her book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome – America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing, I chose to be a part of the discussion to heal black families. The dominant society needs to be held accountable for its cause in our suffering. Unfortunately, we’ve never received the tools or resources to heal. While demanding they provide the most assistance possible, we are taking control of our mental health. We will continue to discuss how we are affected and what we can do to help ourselves and lift each other up.
What Is Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS)
PTSS is derived from the concept that black people have developed the same series of behaviors that resulted from centuries of physical, mental, and spiritual brutality. The behavior displayed as an impact of PTSS shows in black and brown communities worldwide. The fact that millions of people millions of miles away were showing the same characteristics and traits led Dr. Degruy to conduct her study. She questioned how it could be that we had these similarities. Www.behthehealing.com points out that the mistreatment and disregard for black life descended from the cultural narrative that Africans were inferior to White people. Years of institutional racism following slavery caused what is known as M.A.P.
M: Multigenerational trauma together with continued oppression
A: Absence of opportunity to heal or access the benefits available in the society; leads to
P: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome
PTSS vs. PTSD
Many of us in the United States are familiar with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). We generally associate this illness with war veterans and individuals who experienced an apparent physical or emotional trauma. PTSD is also diagnosed in people who never had direct contact with the trauma. In comparison, PTSS is rarely discussed, and there is no treatment dedicated to helping those suffering.
When comparing PTSS to PTSD, it is essential to note the brutality inflicted on African Americans and the length of time they endured this brutality.
Those showing signs of PTSS have low self-esteem, increased ability to commit violence on those closest to them, increased suspicion and paranoia, and may develop suicidal or homicidal thoughts.
In contrast, those diagnosed with PTSD likely experienced a life-changing event and are reported to have changes in mood, experience nightmares, anxiety, and paranoia. The long-term effects of untreated PTSD can result in mental breakdowns or death. However, when PTSD is appropriately diagnosed and treated, it changes the lives of those who suffer. Imagine the transformation we would see in the black community if we had the support to begin massive healing on a national level.
Causes and Treatments of PTSD In Comparison to PTSS
As previously mentioned, PTSD is often cited in war veterans and those who experienced some form of physical or emotional trauma. This trauma consists of but is not limited to; natural disasters, car accidents, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. The experience of these events may cause a series of stress-related reactions. Researchers suggest that if stress-related reactions continue after three months, you should seek professional help.
Descendants of slavery never received mental support or retribution from the crimes inflicted on them. Slavery began in 1619-1865. Two hundred forty-six years of generational torture. In his book 100 years of lynching, writer Ralph Ginsburg documents thousands of mass lynchings of black people that occurred after slavery was abolished. From 1880 to 1961.
Dr. DeGruy points out that PTSD also causes a feeling of foreshortened future. She explains how young black children living in impoverished and violence-prone areas did not expect to live to see adulthood. Alvin Poussaint, a Harvard professor, questioned the increase in suicide among black boys from 1980 to 1995. He proclaimed these young men might have felt the afterlife was better than what they were experiencing.
Our inability to receive proper treatment for PTSS and the system designed to keep black people in a weak position separates PTSS from PTSD. As long as the injustice and oppression that followed the end of slavery persist, healing will be challenging but not impossible.
Individuals with signs of PTSD rarely express what internal trauma has altered their personalities. Instead, they find themselves reliving negative experiences by having frequent nightmares or random flashbacks. Therefore, avoiding situations that remind them of the trauma is one of the main tools used by people who have PTSD. Drugs and alcohol are common substances used to keep one’s mind off the constant stress and anxiety. The unmanaged stress creates guilt, self-doubt, and a feeling of worthlessness and resentment.
An examination of the black community will show you a significant percentage of people who use drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism to everyday life.
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that affects the brain. When doctors study people diagnosed with PTSD, they focus on three parts of the brain, particularly the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the pre-frontal cortex. During a traumatic event, the amygdala is the part of the brain that detects a threat and triggers your stress response system. In standard cases, when the danger is no longer there, you can come out of fight, flight, or freeze mode. But, with PTSD, when the hippocampus translates short- to long-term memories, you’re quickly reminded of the trauma, and it reacts as if you are in that situation again. Finally, the pre-frontal cortex is the brain region that allows you to reverse the adverse effects of the illness. It helps you shut down the stress indicators.
Several evidence-based ways have proven to help you get your brain back in balance. For example, talk therapy enhances your pre-frontal cortex. In addition, medications are available. Unfortunately, I am not a health professional, so I have no opinion on the medicines available, although I would recommend attempting therapy before trying prescriptions.
Dr. Degruy suggests that our healing will come from dealing with both our mental trauma and the injustice simultaneously.
To learn more about PTSD treatment, you can visit: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/index.asp
2022 Reflection: How We Heal Today
We evaluated how causes of PTSD compared to experiences in slavery, and the symptoms of PTSD compared to behaviors existing within millions of black people. So now we have a picture of why Dr. Degruy’s study was so important and why we must expand the conversation.
Currently, in America, we have millions of black people displaying “toxic” behavior due to generations of pain who refuse to acknowledge their behavior or seek therapy. There is a stigma that we should not go to therapists. Attending therapy would be telling your business to a stranger, airing out the family, making you look crazy, weak, or my favorite, “ Just let Jesus fix it.” Black people have created several reasons why we should not seek professional help. We now find therapy is an essential part of everyday life, even when times are not particularly hard. The key is to find a therapist who works for you, who makes you feel free and comfortable.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Expressive Arts Therapist Akinlana Burrowes notes in her literature review that Dr. DeGruy’s research shows that more research needs to be conducted along with therapy-based remedies designed for African Americans.
While I use the words black and African American interchangeably, like Ms. Burrowes, I want to make it clear that we are focused on the descendants of chattel slavery in the United States in this discussion. That is to set a distinction between those forced into slavery in this country, born here, and those who immigrated here years after.
She discusses how Expressive Art Therapy(EAT) is an excellent tool to help individual growth and community development. Ms. Burrowes explains that EAT utilizes visual arts, movement, drama, music, writing, and other creative processes. The goal of her review was to display how EAT helps those experiencing PTSS and present options for others to use these methods.
As we move forward this year and every year that follows, we must be deliberate about our demand for genuine government support and our support for fellow African Americans.
To read Akinlana Burrowes’ full review, you can visit https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1191&context=expressive_theses
Alma Carten, an Associate Professor of Social Work, wrote an article in The Conversation detailing how the legacy of slavery impacts the judgment and reactions of African Americans as they continue to endure systemic racism and brutality. She uses the response of the family of the victims of the Charleston Church shooting as an example of how black people often stifle their genuine emotions and suppress anger and outrage, even when it is justified.
“....we must not obscure or diminish racism’s impact on the mental health that few blacks – irrespective of educational, social or economic status – will escape.”
The discussion of PTSS has not yet reached its highest level of exposure and is still not a part of mainstream media. Along with many others before me, my goal is to augment the conversation and continue the healing process on a large scale. We must create dialogue about the role race plays in depression. These conversations may be difficult to have, but they are critical. We have to take action steps towards creating a healthier life and environment. The work we need must be done on a national level, locally, and within our homes.
Start by talking with your loved ones. Create a book club in your community centered around books that force the conversation. Reach out to your local clinics and outreach centers to see what services are available for people in your area. Educate your children on how trauma affects behavior. Contact your libraries and schools and see what programs are being implemented to inform the youth on mental health awareness.
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