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Pete Davidson: Having Mental Health Issues Doesn't Mean You Can't Be Happy
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Pete Davidson of Saturday Night Live has been open with the public about being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and his struggles with drug use.
Now he’s taken to Instagram to explain that people who are living with mental health issues deserve to be in loving relationships too.
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Page Six reports that Davidson is currently “casually dating” pop star Ariana Grande, and some Twitter trolls questioned whether someone with BPD can hold a relationship together.
“Normally I wouldn’t comment on something like this ‘cause fuck you,” Davidson responded. “But I been hearing a lot of ‘people with BPD can’t be in relationships’ talk. I just wanna let you know that’s not true. Just because someone has a mental illness does not mean they can’t be happy and in a relationship. It also doesn’t mean that person makes the relationship toxic.”
Davidson then posted that he is getting help for his condition. “There are a lot of treatments for mental illness and I have done/am doing all of them. And I encourage those who struggle to seek help as well... it has changed my life for the better.”
In his Instagram posts, Davidson also spoke out against the stigma that many have against mental illness.
“I just think it’s fucked up to stigmatize people as crazy and say that they are unable to do stuff that anyone can do,” he continues. “It’s not their fault and it’s the wrong way for people to look at things. Mental illness is not a joke, it’s a real thing. There’s kids out there killing themselves. And it’s fucking horrific. For all those struggling, I want you to know that I love you and I understand you and it is going to be okay.”
In 2017, which Davidson considered the “worst year” of his life, the comedian learned he had borderline personality disorder, and was combating it with therapy and meds. Davidson also took a leave of absence from SNL to go to rehab to address his drug use and mental health.
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He said on the WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, “I started having mental breakdowns where I would freak out and then not remember what happened after. Blind rage. I never really did any other drugs, so I was like, ‘I’m gonna try to go to rehab. Maybe that will be helpful.’” (Once he completed rehab he posted on Instagram, “I quit drugs and am happy and sober for the first time in 8 years.”)
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In addition to contributing for The Fix, David Konow has also written for Esquire, Deadline, LA Weekly, Village Voice, The Wrap, and many other publications and websites. He is also the author of the three decade history of heavy metal, Bang Your Head (Three Rivers Press), and the horror film history Reel Terror (St Martins Press). Find David on LinkedIn and Facebook.
