Is He Crazy?
Mental illness is an issue that affects every ethnicity, race, and gender. There are people all over the world suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. This is a real issue that is often brushed off as stress.
As a disclaimer, everything that I discuss here on my platform is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed mental health professional, and nothing that I say should be construed as any type of advice. If you believe that you are suffering from any mental health issues, please seek help from a proper mental health professional, whether that be a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or otherwise.
Many people are desperate for help, and cry out in a multitude of ways, be it good or bad. Let’s look at Kanye West. It has been said that he has been on a downward spiral since the passing of his mother, with whom he was very close. Some have said that he has never recovered or dealt with that pain. As many are aware, Kanye West has over the years exhibited what one might call strange behavior or weird outbursts. Some have argued that he uses his outburst and what appears to be radical behavior to his advantage to stay relevant, because as the saying goes, good or bad press is still press, which gets you talked about.
Recalling when he repeatedly hugged Donald Trump and said that he was like a father to him, and more recently, when he, along with Candace Owens wore shirts that read “White Lives Matter,” I’ve heard people say that he is harmful to the community/culture, meaning the black community and culture, and that he hates his own people. I am not here to debate that point one way or the other. Others have said that he is manic, crazy, reinforces our cultural demise, does not take accountability for what he says, and just wants to stay in the spotlight. In a recent conversation with a friend of mine, she asked me a question. She asked “When are we going to be done with him, meaning how far are we going to let him go with his complete disdain for black people.” Again, I am not here to debate whether or not that is true.
While I enjoy Kanye’s older music, especially in the first years that he hit the scene as an artist in front of the microphone, I would not say that I like him or dislike him. However, in my opinion, and some may disagree, I truly believe that his outbursts and behavior come from a place of hurt and is a cry for help. Many have laughed at him over the years, making remarks such as “he must be off his meds” or that “he is crazy.” In all honesty however, none of it is a laughing matter. Ultimately, regardless of your feelings for Kanye West or anyone else for that matter, we should never celebrate anyone’s downfall, or laugh at what appears to be a cry for help. In his case, he most recently lost his partnership with the GAP, and with Adidas, who stopped production of all Yeezy branded products.
Growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and especially growing up in black Baptist church, I would often hear things like “black people don’t need therapy.” “We have Jesus.” “Just pray about it.” I never agreed with that adage, because if you want to get technical, God put therapists on earth for a reason, right? Not to mention, that thought process is detrimental, and even popular shows at that time would push this incorrect verbiage.
Sometimes, as unfortunate as it may be, people do not always have family or friends that they can talk to about their issues, and so a therapist, or other mental health professional could be a great option. Even assuming that one does have people to vent to, a mental health professional could still assist them in working their way through various issues, coming up with a success plan to assist them in overcoming, or at least dealing with productively, any issues they may have.
We all need people in our circle that are not yes men or yes women; those that will check us and let us know when or if we are being extra or doing too much. Those that will let us know that we are potentially headed in the wrong direction, or to simply remind us to think about what we are doing or saying. Either way, like him or hate him, I do hope that someone in Kanye’s circle connects with him and can make a difference in his life.
Ultimately, if you need to talk to someone about something that you are going through, please seek help. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, because we all need help from time to time in dealing with life’s issues. It does not take away from the amazing, intelligent, magical person that you are.
