Latest news with #NIMH
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Taye Diggs Is Helping His Son See That 'Everyone's Journey Is Different' in Mental Health
Taye Diggs is on a mission: to break the stigmas surrounding schizophrenia, for both his generation and the next. For the actor, it's a cause with personal meaning. Diggs' younger sister, Christian, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in her late 20s, and today, the siblings work with Bristol Myers Squibb on the 'Live Your PosSCZible' campaign to not only raise awareness about schizophrenia but also help create possibilities for those living with it. More from SheKnows Exclusive: Leah Van Dale on Why 'Nobody Talks About' This Part of Being a Mom to a Baby & Stepmom to Teens The pair co-hosted an LA talent event featuring the schizophrenia community, and Diggs says to SheKnows that he's excited for people to see how 'well-rounded, artistic, and multi-layered folks are who are diagnosed with schizophrenia.' Per NIMH, schizophrenia is a serious mental condition that affects 2.4 million adults in the US alone. It can come with hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking that could heavily affect daily functioning. It can be impairing, but it doesn't have to define you — and that's what this sibling duo wants to remind everyone. 'It was a wonderful example of just how these folks are not letting the diagnosis define them. I saw these people on stage, and they were brilliant artists as opposed to people struggling and dealing with schizophrenia. I saw that side of them, that facet, and it was really eye-opening,' Diggs says. 'I'm grateful. I'm continuing to learn and my eyes continue to be open wider and wider as far as what life with these differences has in store.' Is it any surprise to fans that during his chat with SheKnows, he answered each question so thoughtfully, pondering every word he uttered to make sure people truly felt what he was saying. Whether it was talking about what he learned through his sister's experiences, his own journey with mental health, or even talking about the lessons he's teaching his teen son, Diggs spoke about everything with such care. His words are a reminder that we all need to be gentle with people, including ourselves. Diggs spoke with SheKnows about mental health, parenting his biracial son, and what he wants people to know about the schizophrenia community. When asked what he wished people knew more about the schizophrenia community, Diggs responds that he wants people to know 'that there is a community.' He says, 'Because I know when my sister was diagnosed, both my sister and I found ourselves feeling alone. It's very easy to fall back and kind of go inwards as opposed to being made aware that there are others out there who have similar struggles. I can see my sister just kind of relaxing, realizing, and being reminded that there are others out there who have similar situations. That's something that really counts.' As you can imagine, Diggs and his sister also experienced the racial disparity in the schizophrenia community, and the mental health community at large. Per RTOR, Black American adults are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems, and more than 80 percent of Black Americans are very concerned about the stigma, discouraging them from seeking treatment. When it comes to breaking the stigmas, Diggs' advice is simple: 'Just do the research!' He says, 'For me, it was just being exposed, having the courage to ignore my initial thoughts of pulling away.' But he also wants people to know that it isn't easy. But luckily, 'it takes work, and it's another thing that people need to realize,' he says. 'It's not gonna be easy. I think that's part of life and I feel proud of my sister and myself because my whole family knows that we're in it… No matter how we or other people may think it should end, we're in there [and] that's what feels really good.' Diggs himself has tough days when it comes to maintaining his mental health. 'That's an ongoing experience as well because a lot of times, I will convince myself that I am okay but then my body will just shut down. So it's something that I'm still kind of learning. Meditating helps, breathing helps. Creating boundaries and setting yourself up to succeed, whatever that is. It's kind of forcing yourself to check in, but then also being patient with yourself.' While he's teaching himself better practices every day, he's doing the same with his teen son, Walker Nathaniel, whom Diggs shares with ex Idina Menzel. Being a teen in 2025 isn't easy, but Diggs is helping his son along the way, including explaining schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. 'I'm here, just exposing him,' he says. 'I tell him what's going on and how it goes down, how everything goes down, what my sister is feeling, and how she felt. Just giving him the blow-by-blow as I experience it, just so I can dispel any images that he may have seen on television or whatnot. And also making sure that he knows that everybody's situation is different. I think it can be easy to be exposed to one kind of specific idea and then think that everything else following that is the same, and that's not the case.' The Private Practice alum added, 'He's a teen, so I can only I can only say so much to him before I get my cool card revoked. Just letting him know that everybody's different and to not make assumptions, just listen to people, and try to be as supportive as possible before passing judgment.' Along with helping him navigate mental health, Diggs is also working hard to make sure Walker feels seen, protected, and empowered. Diggs reflected that with most things in parenting, it's 'an everyday experience.' 'This is one thing that I'm sure about: the moment I think I have it figured out, I know I don't. So I do my best to kind of be in the moment and trust my experiences. I just gotta live with what happens afterwards where we're all doing the best we can. The way I was raised and the situation and the issues that that I had to deal with are completely different for him,' he explains. 'He's biracial. So already, he's coming into the game with different kind of different rules. But he's also a different person than I am, he's built differently.' What does he mean by differently? Well, Digg explains, 'He's far more confident. I went through a nerdy awkward stage, and he's just mister cool dude. I'm dealing with him as he did and doing the best to kind of long listen as opposed to teach and listen. But if there are moments when I can kind of use my experiences to help, I try and I think most importantly, it's just the support, love, and attention.' To fellow parents of teens, Diggs recommends being 'patient with themselves and to be patient with your kid.' Say it louder for the people in the back! When it comes down to it, kids need love, support, attention, and, as Diggs says, both parents and teens need another attribute for a happy home. He says to fellow parents of teens that they need to be 'patient with themselves and to be patient with your kid.' 'There are times when you try to be in the moment and every situation is different, but make sure that the child knows you're there… There are certain times when teens need to be kind of coaxed and then other times when you say, 'Okay. When you wanna say something, I'm here,'' he says. 'I think it's important that they know that you're there to support them, no matter what.' 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USA Today
25-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Grimes reflects on ADHD diagnosis as an adult, its impact on her childhood
Grimes reflects on ADHD diagnosis as an adult, its impact on her childhood Singer Grimes is looking back at her childhood following a recent alleged diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The 37-year-old Canadian musician in a Friday X post responded to an ADHD meme account with some reflections about the impact of allegedly being diagnosed with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder as an adult. "Got diagnosed (with) adhd/ autism this year and realized I'm (probably) dyslexic which is why I can't spell at all without spellcheck," she wrote. "I feel like, had we known this when I was a child, I would have worked so much less hard, been on drugs, and so many of the weird obsessions and motivations I had would have been seen as pathological," she added. "And I could have written off certain things that were very hard for me, but I'm glad I over came them." The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend medication as the first step in treatment for children younger than 6. In response to the meme account's post pathologizing "excessive reading," Grimes wrote: "My adhd symptoms were infinitely worse when I wasn't an avid reader." She also warned people against "self-diagnosing" developmental disorders such as ADHD and criticized misinformation spread by "uninformed social media mental health subculture." In response to media coverage of her alleged diagnoses, the "Genesis" singer clarified on Monday that she'd previously mentioned an autism diagnosis she'd received "well over a year ago" in an August 2023 X post. Grimes, Elon Musk: Grimes says she 'tried begging' Musk to keep their children off the internet The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health says ADHD is generally marked by symptoms such as difficulty paying attention, disorganization, trouble with self-control or excessive activity and restlessness. As ADHD patients get older, "inattentive symptoms often persist" while "hyperactivity and impulsivity are more likely to decline." The NIMH adds that "ADHD symptoms among girls and women are especially likely to have been missed in childhood." The institute recommends speaking with a primary care physician about any concerning symptoms. Common treatments include stimulant medications and behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy. The NIMH also notes that adult patients "must have shown symptoms much earlier, starting before age 12," and also "show five (instead of six) symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity" for a diagnosis. Grimes also took to social media to criticize ex Elon Musk The singer recently took to her former partner Elon Musk's X platform to urge him to protect their kids' privacy. Grimes shares three children — 4-year-old X Æ A-Xii, 3-year-old Exa Dark Sideræl (aka Y) and 2-year-old Techno Mechanicus — with the Tesla and SpaceX businessman, who is also an advisor to President Donald Trump and apparent head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Last month, she expressed her disdain for son X's public visibility after he accompanied Musk to the White House during a visit with Trump. In a follow-up post, she wrote, "I unfortunately do not control the internet and cannot wipe this from the internet. I have tried begging the public and my kids' dad to keep them offline, and I've tried legal recourse." Grimes told Time magazine: "I would really like people to stop posting images of my kid everywhere. I think fame is something you should consent to. Obviously, things will just be what they are. But I would really, really appreciate that." Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Luke Combs opens up about experience with rare form of OCD
Country music superstar Luke Combs is sharing details about his struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, a struggle that he says can be "all consuming" in his life. "When it hits, man, it can be all consuming," Combs said in an interview with "60 Minutes Australia." "If you have a flare up of it, right, it could be you could think about it 45 seconds of every minute for weeks." Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a disorder marked by "uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive and excessive behaviors (compulsions), or both," according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. The disorder impacts around 2% of adults in the U.S. in their lifetimes, according to the NIMH. Combs, who spoke with "60 Minutes Australia" while touring in the country earlier this year, said he struggles with a specific type of OCD known as purely obsessional OCD, or Pure O, that affects him mentally but not physically. While Pure O is not classified as an official diagnosis according to the American Psychiatric Association, it is a term some mental health professionals use to distinguish from the physical compulsions of OCD. "The variant that I have is particularly wicked because, you know, there's no outward manifestation of it," he said, adding, "So for someone like myself, you don't even know it's going on. It could be going on right now." Combs, a married father of two sons, said he has struggled with OCD since the age of 12, describing the disorder as "tedious" and "debilitating," adding that at times it can cause anxiety and disturbing thoughts. Luke Combs' releases 'Father & Sons' album: 'Being a dad is where life has taken me' The Grammy-winning musician has spoken out about his mental health struggles previously, sharing in November that he had noticed improvements in his mental health after making diet changes. He also said after the birth of his son Tex in 2022, his perspective shifted. "There's stuff that used to matter, as far as the things that you worry about, you just don't really worry about that stuff anymore," Combs said in an interview with Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music Country, adding that "almost instantly, you're just kind of like, 'Don't care about that. Don't care about that.' And I was fine before, but I did tend to have pretty tremendous anxiety at times in my life." Luke Combs, wife Nicole Combs share sweet messages to each other for 4th anniversary Combs told "60 Minutes Australia" that he hopes to use his experience to help kids dealing with OCD, saying the disorder held him back many times in his life. "I want to be an example for those kids who don't have any hope," Combs said. "You can you can still go on and do great things even though you're dealing with something that's really tough." Luke Combs opens up about experience with rare form of OCD originally appeared on
Fox News
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Luke Combs admits his struggle with 'obscure' mental health disorder can be ‘all-consuming'
Luke Combs is sharing his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoping to inspire others with the same condition. "I do really well with it for the most part. It's something in at least some way I think about every day," Combs told "60 Minutes Australia" in a recent interview. The "Fast Car" singer described his type of OCD, which is a more "obscure" form of the disorder, explaining, "It's thoughts, essentially, that you don't want to have… and then they cause you stress, and then you're stressed out, and then the stress causes you to have more of the thoughts, and then you don't understand why you're having them, and you're trying to get rid of them, but trying to get rid of them makes you have more of them." He added, "It's really tedious to pull yourself out of it. It takes a lot of… you have to know what to do. I'm lucky to be an expert to know how to get out of it now." According to the National Institute of Mental Health, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a disorder where people have uncontrollable and recurring thoughts or repetitive behaviors, or both. "Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that are intrusive, unwanted, and make most people anxious," NIMH explains. For Combs, "the variant I have is particularly wicked because there's no outward manifestation of it." "It's really tedious to pull yourself out of it… I'm lucky to be an expert to know how to get out of it now." Combs explained that the physical actions, or compulsions, typically associated with OCD, like repeated flicking of light switches or other repetitive behaviors, are all happening internally. "So for someone like myself, you don't even know it's going on." But the 35-year-old has worked to manage his symptoms as they flare up. "The way to get out of it is, like, it doesn't matter what the thoughts even are. You giving any credence to what the thoughts are is, like, irrelevant and only fuels you having more of them," Combs said. He continued, "It's learning to just go, 'It doesn't even matter what the thoughts are.' Like, I just have to accept that they're happening and then just go, 'Whatever, dude. It's happening. It's whatever.' It's weird, sucks, hate it, drives me crazy, but then you just eventually… the less that you worry about why you're having the thoughts, eventually they go away." The thoughts range from "intrusively violent thoughts" to thoughts about religion and himself, saying "it focuses on things that don't have an answer." "That's what fuels the anxiety is you can't ever get an answer and you desperately want an answer for whatever this thing that's bothering you is. But learning to [think that] it doesn't matter what the answer is, is the freedom to just go, 'I don't have to have an answer to that question.'" The OCD can flare up on stage, and "when it hits, man, it can be all-consuming." Combs admitted that a "really bad flare-up" can last "45 seconds of every minute for weeks." The "When It Rains It Pours" singer thinks he first experienced it at 12 or 13, and empathizes with kids going through similar experiences. "It's held me back so many times in my life, where you're trying to accomplish something, you're doing really great, and then you have a flare-up and it's like… it just ruins your whole life for six months. And you're back to where you started." "I have the tools now… when it happens now, I'm not as afraid of it." Combs hopes to do mental health outreach to others going through OCD, hoping his work to come out of flare-ups showcases that "it's possible to continue to live your life and be really successful and have a great family and achieve your dreams while also dealing with things that you don't want to be dealing with. That's something I hope people take away from me regardless of my musical success."
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kanye West says he has autism, not bipolar disorder
Kanye West has dismissed his bipolar disorder, claiming he was misdiagnosed after his breakdown in 2016 and that he actually has autism. The 47-year-old Grammy winner, now legally known as Ye, made the revelation on Tuesday during an appearance on "The Download" podcast. He told host Justin Laboy that he only began questioning his diagnosis after some prodding from his wife, Bianca Censori, who he married in late 2022. She was the one who explained to him that many of his behaviors didn't line up with some of the patterns associated with being bipolar, West recalled. 'My wife took me [to a doctor] because she said, 'Something about your personality doesn't feel like it's bipolar, I've seen bipolar before,'' he explained. 'And come to find out, it's really a case of autism that I have.' Armed with the correct diagnosis, West said he's working to better understand some of his past actions through a fresh lens. The rapper said he believes most of his episodes were sparked when 'the constant feeling of not being in control spun me out of control.' In those moments, he recalled fixating on things he was told not to do, then acting to the contrary. 'You're like, 'Oh, man, I'm gonna wear this [Donald] Trump hat 'cause I just like Trump in general,'' he said. 'And when people tell you to not do it you just get on that one point, and that's my problem. When fans tell me to do my album a certain way, I'll do it the opposite way.' West on Tuesday also revealed that he stopped taking medication for bipolar disorder upon learning of his misdiagnosis. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, autism spectrum disorder 'is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave.' Autism is not considered a mental illness, unlike bipolar disorder, which 'causes clear shifts in a person's mood, energy, activity levels and concentration.' As a result, those affected will 'often experience periods of extremely 'up,' elated, irritable or energized behavior (known as manic episodes) and very 'down,' sad, indifferent or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes),' according the NIMH. West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after he was hospitalized for a 'psychiatric emergency' in 2016. In the years since, though, his behavior continued to raise eyebrows, escalating until 2022, when a series of antisemitic tweets cost him sponsorships and brand partners, including Yeezy's collaboration with Adidas.
