Rapper Jeezy is opening up about experiencing depression for eight years and what he’s learned.
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Jeezy Opens Up About Better Understanding Anxiety, Trauma & Experiencing Depression
The 46-year-old rapper appeared on a recent episode of ‘The Tamron Hall Show’ which aired Monday. During Jeezy’s appearance, he spoke about his recently published memoir, “Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe.”
About halfway through the conversation, the rapper reflected on his struggles with anxiety. Additionally, Jeezy opened up about how “freeing” himself from being concerned with the stigmas surrounding anxiety and mental health made him a “better person.”
“Well, I learned that vulnerability is power. It’s power,” Jeezy explained. “I thought something was wrong with me —
thinking I come from poverty, this is how it is — I didn’t understand trauma and all these different things, so when I started to get the words for it, I started to understand and grab tools, I started to become better…”
Jeezy continued by explaining that now he’s writing about his experience in his memoir because he also had no idea he was “depressed” for eight years of his life “straight.”
“I started my journey, and that’s why I’m expressing it and putting it in the book because I didn’t know I was depressed for like eight years of my life straight,” the rapper explained to Hall.
The rapper shared that his symptoms included waking up and “wanting to go back to sleep,” and “leaning” into his “vices.” Today, the rapper realizes that his trauma was brought on by losing many people close to him. Due to this, he just wasn’t able “to get in touch” with his “emotions.”
“You wake up, and you just want to go back to sleep forever, you know? And I was leaning into my vices,” Jeezy continued. And that’s what street life does to you. You know what I’m saying?” he said. “When you lose 200, 300, 400 people like gone forever, you just, you get numb. And I wasn’t able to get in touch with my emotions, and I was wondering why.”
Social Media Reacts
Instagram users stepped into The Shade Room’s comment section to largely applaud the rapper for his revelations and reflections.
Porsha Williams’ husband, Simon Guobadia, wrote.
“Powerful testimony to resilience🙌🏿”
While Instagram user @holisticvybez added.
“‘Vulnerability is power.’ Truly wish people would understand the truth and weight to those words. 🔥
Some social media users, such as @marriedbyrevroxy, mirrored Jeezy’s statements and experience.
“Yes that definitely depression. You wake up mad that you woke up. Having to face life. Even the simple daily task become laborious 😥 So happy he found some light. 🙏🏾”
Instagram user @xo_kayshenaye29 added.
“‘I just wanted to go to sleep forever.’ Been there 💔 It’s crazy how depression forms and sometimes you don’t even notice it. A lot of people are suffering in silence either because they don’t understand it or they don’t feel that they can be vulnerable to talk about it 🥺 Sending healing thoughts and energy to those tackling depression on their own. Just know it’s okay to express yourself. You just have to find the right person.”
Other Instagram users, such as @dominiquechinn, added positive words of encouragement for fellow viewers.
“Tough times don’t last forever. ❤️”
Instagram user @ajzmahal added.
“We battling mental health issues, inflation, terrible government, working ourselves crazy, and coleslaw being a side. Yall stay prayed up and take it one moment at a time…”
Lastly, Instagram user @after5_clothing shared his gratitude for Jeezy’s transparency.
“I’m so glad he’s sharing ! Because talking about your emotions in our community is such a stigma. I’m happy for @jeezy❤️”
The Rapper’s Statements Arrive Amid His Divorce Proceedings With Jeannie Mai
Jeezy’s revelations arrive amid his recent filing for divorce from his wife of two years, television personality Jeannie Mai. As The Shade Room previously reported, the rapper filed for divorce on September 14. Additionally, the petition reportedly cited that their marriage is “irretrievably broken” with “no hope for reconciliation.”
Weeks later, on October 11, Jeannie Mai seemingly broke her silence on the matter via Instagram.
The 44-year-old shared a photo that featured a quote written on lined paper.
“Sometimes, you need to take a break and disconnect to heal.”
Earlier this month, Mai shared her feelings about her estranged marriage and pending divorce from Jeezy exclusively with Sherri Shepherd, per The Shade Room.
We should note that the estranged couple share a one-year-old daughter named Monaco, while Jeezy fathers two older children from two separate, previous relationships, per PEOPLE.
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