Stick it to the Stigma

If you keep up with media and celebrity drama, you would have heard this already. A rapper that I am/maybe was a big fan of (@drake) came out in a new song calling out another rapper for his mental health. In his song, he says:

You were the man on the moon

Now you just go through your phases

Life of the angry and famous

Rap like I know I'm the greatest

Then give you the tropical flavors

Still never been on hiatus

You stay xanned and perked up

So when reality set in you don't gotta face it

As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety, I take personal offense to this. This is the exact reason there is a stigma when it comes to mental illness. If you admit to having a mental illness, you are weak, broken, and crazy. This was something I struggled with for a long time, hell I still do struggle with it. I have a hard time admitting that I need help or when I’m at a low point because I still think that it makes me weak. In reality, I didn’t ask for the hand that was given to me. I didn’t ask for an overly anxious mind that over analyzes every little thing that happens.

This has to stop! No person should feel bad about something they can’t help. You can’t just change depression and decide one day you’re no longer depressed. It just doesn’t happen. It takes time and work to be able to work through it. As a society we need to start being there for each other through times of struggle instead of looking down on people with illness, no matter what kind it may be. Being sick does not mean you’re weak. If anything, we’re survivors, everyone else can stick that in their juice box and suck it.