People of color often feel invisible and alienated, even traumatized, by the oppression and discrimination still prevalent in our American culture today.
The result leads to not only internalized trauma but also a particular type of aloneness, which author Prasanta Verma defines as ethnic and racial loneliness. Join me and my guest, Prasanta Verma, as we discusses her new book, Beyond Ethnic Loneliness, and listen to learn about the exhausting effects of cultural isolation, the dynamics of marginalization, and the weight of being “other.”
Prasanta points toward the path of healing which includes the need to share our stories and the importance of finding safe friendships and community
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Connect with Prasanta on Instagram
Check out Prasanta’s book, Ethnic Loneliness.
ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST
Join My Giveaway!
I’m giving away three copies of Prasanta’s new book, Beyond Ethnic Loneliness. I’ll draw a winner on Wednesday, May 29 at 12pm ET.
HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment below about a time in life when you felt lonely or unseen. What was difficult about that time in your life and how did you find connection again?
Giveaway Note: US mailing addresses only. This giveaway is not sponsored, administrated or endorsed by Instagram. This giveaway is not affiliated with any of the brands shown in the picture.
Moving to a new town where you know no one brings on loneliness.
It’s hard going from a full social,calendar to an empty one.
Finding a good church can help,
Janet, agreed! It’s so hard to move and start over, but you’ve offered great wisdom there!
My women’s Wednesday night study has been doing books
By Barb Roose and I love it!
Hi Michelle, that’s awesome! Thank you for sharing this – and tell everyone that I said hello!
Good Morning! As an only child, there were and still are times when I feel so lonely. Grief had touched my life so many times. When my mother passed away, only 6 months after I got married. Everyone concentrated on how my dad was doing. It seemed that they forgot about me. I was grieving, probably more than my dad was. My depression was so out of control. I felt so alone. 2 months after my mother died. I had a miscarriage. It was a really horrible time in my life. I knew that I had to pick myself up. I left my husband, who didn’t understand.I worked with the mentally challenged. I put myself into my work. Working 60 hours some week. When I wasn’t working, I attended many Bible studies. Through the Bible studies, I met so many wonderful people. It’s those people, who are still friends over 40 years later, that helped to pick me up.. I still have down times, but my faith and my close friends are still helping me.
Kathy, thank you for sharing your story. I’m so sorry for the tremendous heartaches that you’ve experience. I believe that your story will help someone else today who feels like they’ve been alone through a lot of grief as well. Praise God that you see where God has sent wonderful people into your life and you’re still leaning into trust Him.
Since I became a divorced, single mom I’ve felt lonely. Just going for a walk alone last night, seeing my married friends on walks with their husbands, is another reminder that I’m alone. I try to tell myself that I have lots of freedom, but with that comes lots of loneliness too. I have one single friend and am very thankful for her. I live in a very small, rural community with not a lot of single people.
Lisa, big hugs to you. As a fellow divorcee, I agree that it’s hard when it seems like all of the couples all around remind you of the loneliness. I’m glad that you have another single friend and I pray that you continue to ask God for help when the loneliness feels extra heavy.
Thank you for this giveaway opportunity. Years ago I was very lonely during a season when my husband and I were considering divorce.
Lisa, that definitely would have been a hard a lonely season. Thank you for sharing a little of your story with us.
My first marriage there was a few years in Florida due to my then husband’s new job. That marriage came to an end. I felt so alone a lot of the time. Coming back to my hometown I eventually reconnected with life again.
Jessie, I’m so sorry for those tough years of loneliness, before and after your marriage. I’m glad that you reconnected with a supportive community in your hometown.
I felt lonely and unseen when I was struggling with postpartum depression, partly because I didn’t realize that’s what was happening, and the nature of depression makes it hard to reach out and ask for help. I became socially isolated but it felt like folks didn’t know how to help so I was just sort of on my own. It got better with time and eventually, when I realized I had had depression and it wasn’t a permanent state, I was better equipped to prepare for it when we had our second child.
Lindsay, thank you for sharing your story. I believe that your words will bless and encourage another woman facing postpartum. I’m glad that it did fade, but more thankful that you recognized it and created a game plan in advance before you second child. So wise!
When I found God and my friends have not or did not want to. They stopped inviting me to fleshly activities that were not my scene. It was hard to communicate with them. I just dug deeper in my faith and my church and I have since found friends I am close to.
Nicole, thank you for sharing your story. The loss of those old friends must have been painful, but I’m glad that you trusted God and He surrounded you with a new community for believers.
When I lost my mother and was going through a divorce. It was a difficult time for me. I felt like I was here on this planet all alone.
I reconnected with my Father who helped me get into a better place.
Kathleen, thank you for sharing a little of your story. That was such a hard season for you to endure – and heartbreaking. God is good and faithful to be there for us when our world falls apart.
I pray that Lord will give me the strength to get through it and put my trust Him and his word.
Joining you in that prayer, Jessica! Thank you for your comment!
I’m so intrigued by Prasanta’s book. As a military spouse, I encountered loneliness each time our family moved. (Thank you, Uncle Sam.) I had to leave behind family and friends and start over … dive into finding new relationships. But there was always a season of transition, of loneliness, and I never could predict how long it would last. I had to choose to be the new one in the community (again), and I had to not wait for someone to reach out to me. But first, I focused on getting my kiddos settled.
That’s such wisdom there, Beth. Especially when you had to be courageous over and over again to be the first to step out and make that first move. That isn’t easy to do, but I’m glad that you did.
Love to win this.
Thank you for joining me here and posting your comment!
I feel lonely now and it is hard to function even when people are around. It seems that everything is going wrong and when you are down nobody sees you. I am trying to figure out how to get over this feeling.
Sweet Karen, thank you for sharing your comment with us. So many can relate to feeling alone even though there are lots of people around. I pray that God makes it extra clear to you today that you are seen and loved. I pray that he sends people to confirm that message and to care for you.