How Does Racial Bias Affect Mental Health?

Unfortunately, even well into the 21st century, racism is alive and well in our society. As a result, racial bias continues to be a problem in the workplace, in schools, and even in personal relationships. 

If you’re a person of color or minority, you might feel the sting of racial bias on a regular basis. It might even be something so “normal” that you feel like you’ve gotten used to it. 

But, that’s not something anyone ever really gets used to. In fact, it could be having more of a negative impact on your well-being than you might think. 

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how racial bias affects mental health, and what you can do to protect your emotional well-being. 

Dealing With Depression

One of the most common mental health issues associated with racial bias is depression. If someone forms an opinion of you before they get to know you – based solely on your skin color or background – it can make you feel helpless and hopeless. You might not know what to do to change that opinion, and you might give up trying. 

That sense of hopelessness can lead to extreme sadness. Feeling like the world is judging you without knowing who you really are is a heavy weight to carry, especially when you feel like you’re all alone. 

Unfortunately, that feeling of isolation also contributes to depression. It can create a vicious cycle and make your symptoms worse. The more isolated you feel in your situation, the more likely you are to withdraw from the people who actually care about you. 

Struggling With Stress

Research has shown that racial discrimination is incredibly stressful for both children and adults. If you’ve ever been discriminated against at work, in school, or even among “friend” groups, you’ve undoubtedly felt that stress. 

Maybe you’ve been in so many stressful, discriminatory situations in the past that it’s started to impact your daily life. You might meet new people with caution, or find yourself wondering what they really think or if they’re judging you. 

That kind of stress often causes anxiety and fear. Anxiety typically stems from uncertainty. Wondering if someone is discriminating against you because of your race is a huge factor, and can cause you to be in a state of constant worry over how people perceive you and what they might really think. 

The Repercussions of Racial Trauma

Sometimes, racial bias can go so far that it creates traumatic experiences. Racial bias can often go too far, raising your stress levels so much that it causes you to experience trauma. The mental and emotional injuries you can face when dealing with racial bias are very real, and can have lasting, lingering effects. Some of the common symptoms of racial trauma include: 

• Intrusive thoughts

• Excessive worry

• Low self-esteem

• Withdrawal from people and things you love

Trauma, in general, can start to take over nearly every aspect of your life. Because racial bias isn’t going anywhere any time soon, you might have a harder time managing your trauma and your triggers than someone who was traumatized from one specific event. 

What Can You Do?

Ideally, the entire premise of racial bias would vanish completely overnight. Realistically, that’s not going to happen. Racism is an ugly, damaging, terrifying mindset that has been causing nothing but destruction for centuries. 

So, focus on yourself and your well-being, first and foremost. If you’ve been a victim of racial bias and it’s affecting your mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out for help for either anxiety therapy or depression treatment. Lean on your support system. Talk to family and friends. Most importantly, work with a therapist or other mental health professional to help you manage your symptoms and overcome the mental health issues you’re dealing with.