Among me and all of my friends , every single one of us has either been affected by alcoholism or dealt with an addiction personally.  In the African-American community, one of the reasons alcoholism is so prevalent and often fatal is because we tend to not take it as seriously.  Drunken fist fights, binges and blackouts are a Friday night with family and friends, not an indication of a problem.  Witnessing several people in my family suffer from addiction I can attest to the fact alcoholism is a family disease: When one person suffers so does all who love them with secrets and shame and a feeling of helplessness.  Alcohol attacks your life like a loose thread on a cheap dress: With every pull it slowly unravels until all that you’re left with something that doesn’t remotely resemble the life you once had.  Check out the following signs that it’s all about to fall apart and one way to try and keep it all together.

It’s no secret that sisters face a lot of pressure in our daily lives. Sometimes it seems like there’s always a new report offering up bleak stats on our health, income, families and romantic prospects. And yet with all the gloomy input, it’s the rare African-American female who will just drop the “strong black woman” thing and cop to being depressed. Madame Noire spoke to clinical psychologist Dr. Gloria Morrow about the matter. 

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