a black girl with the blues🦋

Author's Note

Major Depressive Disorder: A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if your life isn’t worth living.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A mental health disorder that causes excessive or unrealistic anxiety around certain aspects of life (work, social relationships, financial matters, etc.), accompanied by symptoms such as increased muscle tension, impaired concentration, and insomnia.

Hi. My name is Kateva Jones, and at 19, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. These diagnoses do not define me, but they are a big part of who I am, and I have accepted that.

In this book are poems stemming from the thoughts of a teenaged me to the current one. For the longest time, creativity has been my biggest outlet. My safe space. Something I know I can count on because I know it will always be here as long as I am. These poems might not be the best, but they’re from me, and that’s all that matters.

This book is dedicated to all the beautiful Black girls and boys who are suffering from depression and anxiety, along with other mental health disorders. Your disorders do not define you. They make up a part of you, but they are not the only part of you. You are not alone. You are seen. You are heard. You are loved. Please do not give up. I believe in you.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: (800)950-6264 or text NAMI to 62640 Can answer questions about mental health, treatment, and local support groups. Staff members are available Mon-Fri from 10am to 6pm.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline:(877)-SAMHSA-7 (726-4727), TTY: (800)487-4889 SAMHSA leads efforts to advance behavioral health across the U.S., offering resources for mental health, substance use, and community well-being.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 Provides confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States.

It does get better. It will get better.