Submitted by: Mihiret Hailu

Until I was about 25 or 26 years old, I thought I had a strong identity and felt grounded in my intersectional identity.

But then I had a horrible experience at work and everything changed. I was depressed, I started to have anxiety and I couldn’t understand why.

My family was supportive, but I heard a lot of:

+ Be grateful

+ How could you be depressed when you are in America and educated... you have so much opportunity etc.

+ You need to go to church

+ Try holy water

I did go to church... and I also went to #therapy. The decision to go to therapy was uncomfortable and out the culture, but my mental health issue was truly because of the American capitalistic society, and figuring out how to navigating it as I matured into an adult was hard.

Both were necessary because I am the product of a US born Ethiopian-American, and I have to navigate this place the way it’s been structured; and my children do too.

Church wasn’t enough, but it did hug my soul. It reminded me that my spirit and my humanity are more beautiful and came first.

Church and therapy were truly the intersection I needed to rebuild my identity and strength.

Let’s talk about therapy, Mamas. Let’s talk about it in open places, let’s talk about it with friends, let’s talk about it behind closed doors... let’s normalize therapy for men and women who look like us and share our cultural background.

Thank you, Mihiret, for your vulnerability and courage to share your experience.