For many of us, the effects of childhood trauma remain unwittingly. Aspects of our adult identity are shaped by the frightening chapters of our childhood, without us even realizing it. It can take years of soul-searching, not to mention professional support, to regain a sense of your true self.
Yes, it’s an arduous and terrifying process, and perhaps the most difficult aspect is the fact that you have to uncover that trauma again by talking about it. Being open and honest about our struggles often leads to the support, healing, and transformation needed to improve our mental health.
Filmmaker Kevin Smith is a well-known celebrity for being candid about his personal challenges, especially when it comes to health and well-being. After suffering a heart attack in February 2018, the director of “Clarks” made his weight loss journey and the insights he gained from it a major part of his online presence. You’d be hard-pressed to find a fan who didn’t know about this part of his life.
However, exclusively peopleKevin Smith has revealed for the first time that the root cause of his previous weight struggles was related to the sexual abuse he experienced when he was six years old.
as Smith said people, he always denied the gravity of the incident, telling himself, “We’re just playing doctors in an alleyway.” After checking into Arizona’s Sierra Tucson Treatment Center and spending a month in intensive care, it wasn’t until age 52 that Smith realized the incident was indeed serious and left untreated emotional scars. rice field.
After struggling with being stuck in a “complete disconnect from reality” and “a strange and dark place,” Smith finally got help. We learned that in addition to being made fun of for his weight, it led to him creating a “larger-than-life” public persona he called “The Other Man.”
Kevin Smith on Instagram: “28 years ago today I started filming my first movie CLERKS! Clueless kids gathered at @quickstopgroceries in a few hours and changed our lives forever , created art that redefines who we are.Since then, not a day goes by without me saying the word ‘clerk’.It was my one and only magic trick.Somebody’s Ear “What else can you do?” In the decades since then, while other tricks have been shown to varying degrees of success, Clerks has managed to sell itself poorly. It continues to be my reputation for being able to captivate audiences. And with a little luck, we’ll be back there soon to try some more magic… #KevinSmith #clerks #clerks3 #90s #1993 #leonardonj #indiefilm #blackandwhite”
“I felt like I didn’t care. That’s when the ‘other guy’ started showing up.” I decided to entertain and make people love me before they realized I was fat,” he told People.
As “Jay and Silent Bob” alone proves, this strategy worked. Perhaps for Smith, abandoning the alter ego that brought him so much commercial success seems more tragic than anyone else.
Still, Smith decided to take steps to find her “authentic self.” This includes quitting smoking marijuana and incorporating a more relaxed work schedule, but also sharing his story with fans to spread important messages. of self acceptance.
Smith posted a link. people his own article twitter “As an internet creature for 28 years, I fully expect this to get trolled. But if it can help some people, it will be worth it. So… A few months ago I had a mental health crisis and this is part of what I learned.”
As a creature of the internet for 28 years, I fully expect to be trolled by this one. But if it can help some people, it will be worth it.
So here we go…
A few months ago I had a mental health crisis.
Here are some of the things I learned: https://t.co/9Uavmnxg6Fhttps://t.co/36NuEkqK0w— Kevin Smith (@ThatKevinSmith) April 26, 2023
Let’s see what people had to say:
“The more I talk about my mental health, the less stigma. It’s okay if it’s not okay. Thank you Kevin for sharing your journey with us!”
“Kev, I don’t know you very well, but we’ve met several times over the years and I’ve always had a great deal of respect for you.” Much more love, brother.
“I used to have a particularly hard time with people commenting on my body and how I handled it when I was a lot heavier growing up. I’ve kept my comments to a minimum.I’m glad you talked about Kevin.”
“Sending you all my love, Kev. I’ve been on a similar journey, and I’m happy to hear about your healing journey.
“Thank you this Kevin. It’s really amazing to actually see the real you. I hope others get a lot of positive energy and healing from this. Mental health important and our happiness.”
“This has been so beautiful. I can’t thank you all enough for sharing your wisdom, especially over the last few years. I’m so glad you’re finding yourself. You. always shines above any other man. Much love and speed for your continued growth.”
You don’t have to be a popular celebrity to talk about your struggles. If anything, this is a beautiful example of what happens when you normalize this kind of conversation. It may not look like an interview with People, but opening up to loved ones, community, or a therapist can be surprisingly effective in restoring our sense of self. It may be the only way we truly do it.
You can watch Smith’s full video interview with The People below:
