Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
Exploring the Emotional Lives of Black The Emotional Lives of Black Women
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Black women are beautiful, intelligent and capable —but mostly they embrace strong. Esteemed clinical psychologist, Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler, praises the strength of women, while exploring how trauma and adversity have led to deep emotional pain and shaped how they walk through the world.
Black women’s strength is intimately tied to their unacknowledged suffering. An estimated eight in ten have endured some form of trauma—sexual abuse, domestic abuse, poverty, childhood abandonment, victim/witness to violence, and regular confrontation with racism and sexism. Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen shows that trauma often impacts mental and physical well-being. It can contribute to stress, anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Unaddressed it can lead to hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, overeating, and alcohol and drug abuse, and other chronic health issues.
Dr. Burnett-Zeigler explains that the strong Black woman image does not take into account the urgency of Black women’s needs, which must be identified in order to lead abundant lives. It interferes with her relationships and ability to function day to day. Through mindfulness and compassionate self-care, the psychologist offers methods for establishing authentic strength from the inside out.
This informative guide to healing, is life-changing, showing Black women how to prioritize the self and find everyday joys in self-worth, as well as discover the fullness and beauty within both her strength and vulnerability.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Psychologist Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler pulls apart the cultural myth of the strong Black woman in this insightful, heartfelt self-help book. Burnett-Zeigler states in no uncertain terms that the idea that Black women must be the backbone of their families and communities, always putting others ahead of themselves, is a firmly entrenched historical stereotype that harms Black women’s emotional, mental, and physical health. In chapters laser-focused on crucial areas of concern (including intimacy, parenting, and vulnerability), Burnett-Zeigler explains how to counteract the societal and familial pressure to be everything to everyone. In very clear and accessible language, she lays out a manageable framework for Black women to heal from the stress of having to appear invulnerable and become open to joy. As she so astutely makes clear, self-care isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this excellent debut, clinical psychologist Burnett-Zeigler provides a road map to help Black women find "a healthy balance between strength and vulnerability." She begins by articulating the connections between systemic racism and sexism, generational and childhood trauma, and the prevalence of negative individual physical and mental health outcomes for Black women. Blending personal anecdotes, case studies, and questions for reflection, Burnett-Zeigler helps readers identify if they are acting "from a space of trauma"—such as by using common coping mechanisms like embracing a facade of "being strong—and to envision proactive choices instead. In the book's second half, she addresses obstacles Black women face in accessing and making the most of mental health treatment—such as lack of coverage and skepticism toward practices—and provides tips for dealing with both. Ultimately, Burnett-Zeigler demonstrates how the idea of the "strong Black woman" can be both helpful and harmful, and lays out ways for readers to eliminate "what no longer serves" them. This thorough analysis effectively pulls back the curtain on the emotional and health barriers Black women face to suggest practical strategies for change.
