#FreeBritney: A Mental Health Movement

She’s so lucky, she’s a star
But she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart, thinking
If there’s nothing missing in my life
Then why do these tears come at night?

Lucky By Britney Spears

 Mental Health Is Still A Stigma

Mental Disorder: A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. These conditions deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect the ability to relate to others.

A Few Other Statistics from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health)

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
• 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24

Some Mental Disorders include:

Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression. Dissociative Disorder, Eating Disorders, OCD, PTSD, Psychosis and Schizoaffective Disorder.

 

Mental Health Disorders can be caused by a number of reasons- including but no excluding

1. Environment
2. Genetics
3. Trauma/PTSD
4. Biological Imbalance

Among other factors (again NAMI has wonderful statistics and information.)

They however are never ones fault, and most certainly not one’s choice.

 

What We Are Still Not Understanding

  Unless you live under a rock I am sure to some extent you are aware of the #freebritney movement, understanding however that many of us don’t actually understand the level of severity or why it’s such a big deal, so for that I felt compelled to dedicate an entire blog to it, as it truly lends itself to the theme of how far our world still has to come in order to better understand mental health disorders and the stigmas surrounding them.

I am hopeful that the next generation and generations to come hopefully will not still be fighting to overcome stigmas surrounding mental health human conditions and equality for all- ESPECIALLY those who are programmed differently and don’t fit into society as it is now.

As we are not there yet (making great progress) therefore we must be committed to educating ourselves, to learning from one another and from learning that it’s okay to not have the answers to everything- but being open to trying to learn and being committed to not judging.

We should never reach a point in life where we think we have it all figured out. We should always be evolving in our thought process.

“And just because “something has always been a certain way” doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to learn from the past in order to make a better world for our future. Let’s move beyond Prince Charles logic here.” 

 First and foremost, we need to understand that so many people suffer in silence and never speak out about or get the support they need in terms of one’s mental health, because there are still stigmas, and many do not understand and aren’t committed to learning.

According to a 2019 study by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) 1 in 5 US Adults experienced mental illness in 2019. ( I assume the 2020 polls will be even higher)

Also mind you this is just those who have reported it, been diagnosed or our seeking help- I imagine it’s even higher but with stigmas many suffer for a lifetime alone and in silence. If you are one of them, please know that I hear you and I am with you.

1 out of 5 (51.5 million people in the US) that is an astonishing number, and that also means that the probability of each and every one of us knowing at least one person is very probable.

 

Pride: More then a Rainbow Flag or a Fade 

The #FreeBritney movement reminds me a lot of how people see “Pride” and what it stands for and for a lot of people unfortunately they see it as “trendy” or they truly don’t understand why we still have movements of the sorts.

I think a lot of people think that because we’ve come a long way with our equality rights for the LGBTQ community or as far as mental health- that there isn’t really a need to have these movements or people don’t understand how much work STILL has to be done. Sadly, I will say SO much has to be done, but that doesn’t undermine all that has been done!

 

 Men and Mental Health

“Boys don’t Cry” “Toughen Up” “Be a Man”

  In 2019 men died by suicide at a rate of 3.63X that of women and that is truly a crazy statistic. In my not so humble opinion, I believe society plays a major factor in this mentality- and that mental health is more easily discussed and “accepted” among females- or at least I feel that more women are open to discussing their mental health struggles- but in turn may also be looked at as a women’s “illness” and that women because they are more emotional they appear “weaker.”

I know for a fact that many still have a stigma that anyone with a mental health illness/disease is somehow weaker than those who do not experience.

I know this because I am one of those who suffers (at times tremendously) with mental health, and for most of my life- I have been misunderstood, undermined and made by some to feel “crazy” or “too sensitive.” 

Well yes your right- Some of US we just feel IT ALL but that does not make us weak. 

Oh and for the record, if we could chose to not suffer from mental health- WE WOULD IN A HEARTBEAT. 

SIGH SIGH SIGH

 

Misogyny and Mental Health

 Although no formal diagnosis has been made for Britney  I think it’s pretty safe to say that it’s no coincidence that around the time of her public “breakdown” which led to her conservatorship in 2008- it was right around the time that she had her second son (both children are roughly a year apart.)

As a young mother under the polarizing spotlight of fame, compiled by new blogger sites committed to bullying and tearing apart celebrities I can only imagine what Britney was going through under that type of scrutiny while dealing with the physical and mental aspects of delivering two small children so close in age.

During this time, Britney’s every move was chased, stalked and scrutinized- I mean how can anyone possible live up to that type of lifestyle?

The world at the time, was not the world Britney deserved and in turn Britney was made out to be an “unfit mother”, when I truly believe she was suffering at the hands of the world and with postpartum depression of some sorts. 

What I ask is, “if we knew more about postpartum depression back then, do we think Britney would have been saved?’

I also propose :”If Britney was a man, would this have happened? 

 

Brave and Bald 

When Britney Spears shaved her head in 2007- the entire world posted about it, and made her yet again look crazy. Well you know what was really behind it?

SHE WANTED PEOPLE TO STOP TOUCHING AND STALKING HER and her babies. Quote on quote from the tattoo artist who watched on as Britney shaved her head she heard the following;

I just don’t want anybody touching my head. I don’t want anyone touching my hair. I’m sick of people touching my hair.

The worst part, it made people STALK HER and ridicule her even more. Imagine crying out for help in such a physical way and being laughed at?

The world failed Britney, and all we can do now is make up for it by learning to understand. 

Celebrities and Mental Health

Recently, People Magazine did an article about celebrities and famous figures who either suffer themselves or those who have family members who suffer from mental health conditions and illnesses.

What stood out the most to me, was an article about Howie Mandel (America’s Got Talent) and how due to his extreme case of OCD, how he ended up shaving his head. He did so because he said it helped him with his compulsive desires to always feel clean- and by shaving his hair off, he felt “cleaner.”

Mental Health conditions are not linear, and they present themselves differently depending on each person, therefore as a society it’s important that we understand that.

 

In Conclusion

I am confident that the world is moving in the right direction for how we handle those with mental health conditions and how we manage the stigmas associated with them, but we must be committed to constantly trying to educate and better ourselves, because we have failed people as a society. 

I hope this post gives you insight into the the #freebritney movement and towards all Mental Health Movements. The more people we have who want to understand the more universal healing we will have. 

My focus today was specifically on the mental health aspect and not so much on the conservatorship of Britney (maybe another post.) but in the meantime if you want to read up on how Britneys own family and closest friends failed her you can research a few of the key contenders ;

 

1. Lou Taylor
2. Jamie Spears
3. Jamie Lynn Spears
4. Bryan Spears
5. Sam Ingham III 
6. Lynn Spears

One of the the best instagram pages I’ve seen for all the latest findings(and ways to help) on the conservatorship is “House of Habit.”

And Lastly I leave you with the following;

 Now that you are aware of all the ways in which mental health can present itself, how will you show up differently for yourself or for a loved one who suffers at the hand of such awful mental disorders? 

There is so much power and accountability in knowledge.

 

Vibes
Xo,

 

 

**Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, therapist or psychiatrist. The info I’ve provided is simply based on my own personal research and experience.**