Entertainment

Kanye West Opens Up About His Mental Health

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Rapper Kanye West is opening up about the mental issues that have been responsible for some rather bizarre actions from him in recent years.

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In an episode of David Letterman’s Netflix series, “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,” which will air this Friday, Kanye West shared with Letterman the difficulties he’s faced in managing his own mental health.

Kanye West
Kanye West with his mother, the late Dr. Donda West

“You have this moment [where] you feel everyone wants to kill you. You pretty much don’t trust anyone,” West said in describing the feeling of having a manic episode with bipolar disorder. “When you’re in this state, you’re hyper-paranoid about everything, everyone,” he continued. “This is my experience, other people have different experiences. Everyone now is an actor. Everything’s a conspiracy. You feel the government is putting chips in your head. You feel you’re being recorded. You feel all these things.”

Kanye West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder only 2 years ago and openly discussed his diagnosis on his 2018 album, “Ye.”  However, his mental health issues were present and prevalent long beforehand.  His mother, Dr. Donda West, was very instrumental in helping him manage his health early on.  However, when she died in 2007, he lost his fiercest protector.  This eventually led to an involuntary psychiatric hold in 2016.

“They have this moment where they put you, they handcuff you, they drug you, they put you on the bed, and they separate you from everyone you know,” West said. “That’s something that I am so happy that I experienced myself so I can start by changing that moment.”

The rapper also shared with Letterman the importance of taking the prescribed medication to treat his condition.

“If you don’t take medication every day to keep you at a certain state, you have a potential to ramp up and it can take you to a point where you can even end up in the hospital. And you start acting erratic, as TMZ would put it,” he said in reference to his impromptu visit to the celebrity gossip website’s headquarters, where he made headlines by announcing slavery was a “choice.”

Kanye West

Kanye West and his “antics” have become the brunt of many jokes.  However, the rapper says he has chosen to speak about his diagnosis in hopes of eradicating the “strong stigma” around mental health.

Congratulations to Kanye West for having the courage to address his own mental health and to give others the strength to address theirs as well.


OK WASSUP! covers Entertainment News:
Rapper Kanye West discusses his mental health issues.

 

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DJ

DJ is the creator and editor of OK WASSUP! He is also a Guest Writer/Blogger, Professional and Motivational Speaker, Producer, Music Consultant, and Media Contributor. New York, New York USA

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Truthiz1

Let me start by saying Thanks DJ for initiating a discussion on Mental Health. It is among the most serious of “taboo” subjects most of Black America would rather NOT even acknowledge, let alone talk about openly and candidly. Other serious “taboo” subjects include Sickle Cell Disease, HIV/AIDS, Cancer, etc. But back to Mental Health. Full disclosure: I’ve worked in the field MH for 26 yrs (as of this summer). I began as a college intern working at a County MH/MR agency, in the Forensic Unit, which meant assessing men and women who were incarcerated in County jails and State prisons AND presented with symptoms of various forms of mental illnesses, from Depression to Schizophrenia, Upon completion of my internship and my B.S. degree in Applied Behavioral Science, I was offered a full-time Administrative position in that same agency. Suffice it to say I ‘cut my teeth’ (gained a tremendous… Read more »

Mr.BD

This is all right up your alley then. Here here!

Truthiz1

I am no fan of Kanye West. Frankly, I think much of his antics (since the passing of his mom), are mostly driven by some form of personality disorder. And IF indeed that is the case…well there ain’t NO fixing that. Not even with meds.

However, his willingness to talk publicly about his own struggles could encourage some of his fans (especially Black fans) who are also affected by some form of mental illness to finally seek mental health intervention.

THAT’s a good thing. And I have no problem commending Kanye for it.

Mr.BD

DJ was right his mom kept a lot of things hidden. But she held him in control. When she died he had nobody. I think this is one reason he got hooked up with the Kardashian. He needs that mother figure and even though I think they are taking advantage of him he feels protected.

Truthiz1

And BD, if I recall correctly, Kanye was “gittin’ bizzy” with Kim Kardashian while she was in a relationship with Reggie Bush.

Truthiz1

One last thing to share………. In 2001 (while completing my graduate degree) I was approached by a prominent Black physician who had a private practice. He had heard about my work at the County. He invited me to lunch to share with me his vision for a community-based organization he had founded a few years prior but had struggled to really get off the ground. Finally, having the backing of the state Dept. of Health he was looking for a qualified person of Color (preferably) to develop, implement and oversee the psychosocial division of his organization. It sounded like a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. Eighteen yrs later I’m glad to say…I was right. He is deceased now. But I will Forever be Grateful to him for trusting in me to help bring his dream to fruition, and allows me to come to work every day doing a… Read more »

Mr.BD

I agree with Truth. Black people don’t like to talk about mental state. But I am glad he came forward about all this. Plus people have been making fun of Kanye for a long time and saying he is a clown. I have been saying something is not right about him mentally and that it is not funny. I’m not glad to be right but I am glad he confirmed it so we can stop making him a joke.

Truthiz1

“Suffering in Silence” is a way of life for far too many, if not most, Black people.

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