In a recent interview with PEOPLE, rapper Big Sean, 32, has revealed how he has gotten rid of his mental health struggles.
Sean, whose real name is Sean Michael-Leonard Anderson, told PEOPLE, “You just have to pace yourself and take a break before you need a break. It gets very real. Especially with a person like me. I live inside my head so much.”
“I go over scenarios and I go over two or three things at the same time, and that creates an overwhelming feeling and a lot of anxiety, which leads to depression, which leads to all these things,” he continued. “I had to learn how to pace myself. Not to say I still don’t go through those things, I definitely do. It’s just, now I know how to deal with them.”
Sean added, “I know how to get through them easier and I know what it is [I’m dealing with]. As opposed to before, when I was confused on why I was feeling like that, because nobody ever talked to me about it.”
The rapper learned to take care of himself in recent months. He said, “I’m putting myself as a priority and that really, really speaks volumes. When you do that, you start looking better, and you start feeling better and being better in everything you do. So, it’s important.”
In September Sean said, “I thought doing what I loved would always make me happy and satisfied, so when I got tired of it, I was confused and it drove me insane. Later I realized I was just growing n had to gain a new mentality and foundation on many levels n re-discover my passion! And try new things..”
He came head-to-head with his own mental health struggles while working on his fifth studio album, Detroit 2, stating, “It was the going through that process, of wanting to grow as an artist the hard way, that did it.”
Sean is now incredibly proud to be up for a Grammy this year, marking his sixth nomination. He told PEOPLE, “It feels great. It feels amazing. The song, ‘Deep Reverence,’ for me and Nipsey Hussle is such an important rap song, so it’s an honor and I appreciate the honor [the Recording Academy] gave me.”
“I’m happy to be working with Nyla [to whom Sean mentored] and looking forward to seeing her blossom into a superstar,” he told PEOPLE.
“I’m happy to help her in any way I can,” he added. “The reality is, coming from where I come from, it rarely happens. The fact that I’m here, and I’m able to provide for my family, and boss up and be who I am — the man I am today — it’s a true honor, and I just thank everyone who helped me get here.” The article was originally published on PEOPLE.
