I’m heartbroken after hearing that Bobbi Kristina has gone on to be with her beautiful mother. I’m heartbroken because another life has been taken way too soon. I’m heartbroken because this could’ve been prevented. I’m heartbroken whenever anyone feels like they have no other choice but to turn to self-medicating alternatives to ease the pain.
People, this isn’t about being a celebrity, drugs or alcohol or craving attention. It’s a MENTAL FITNESS issue, and we will continue to have unnecessary incidences like these if we don’t accept it. Nobody wakes up and says, “I think I’ll get addicted to drugs/alcohol today.” They do it because they are hurting and just want to feel like their best selves again. Let’s not continue to do a disservice to people like Bobbi Kristina, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, TiTi Branch, Chris Lighty, and whoever else may be hurting, by talking about everything it isn’t and instead accept what is. The truth of the matter is that this is a mental fitness issue and society helps to push people off the ledge by doing the following:
- Refusing to accept what the real issue is, and that’s mental fitness. It’s not about partying or just trying a new substance for the fun of it. It’s about succumbing to the pressures of being who people expect you to be instead of being who you want to be AND not being able to talk about it.
- It’s about fear of judgment! No one dare not say they are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed or stressed without some sort of judgment from society. If it’s a celebrity, people scream, “You have the perfect life and you have nothing to be stressed about.” If it isn’t a celebrity, people shout, “Oh, you’re just having a bad day. People have it much worse than you do.”
- There’s no safe place to land. As a result of number 2, no one feels like there is a safe place to express their hurt. Therefore they just keep hurting and looking for ways to numb the pain.
- Quit with all of your unsolicited opinions. Society feels like they always get to have an opinion (and it’s usually negative) regarding what’s going on in someone else’s life. Stop it! People who are clearly hurting don’t need your opinions. They need your love, support and encouragement.
The Houston/Brown family (including Nick Gordon) has been through so much over the past 3 years and I hope that they can begin to heal and find some sort of peace. I also hope that society can give them the privacy, space and time to do so.
Be Well,
Kela