Kevin Smith Details His Personal Trauma, Bullying & Improving Mental Health | PEOPLE
One morning in January 2023, ‘Clerks’ director Kevin Smith awoke in terror, convinced he was losing his mind. The next day, he checked into Arizona’s Sierra Tucson Treatment Center, where he spent a month in intensive therapy and learned how childhood sexual abuse and bodyshaming over his weight by his 4th grade teacher led him to create and hide behind a larger-than-life public persona he calls “the other guy.”
Now Kevin has stopped smoking weed, cut back on social media, is slowing down his work schedule after churning out movies, comic books, TV shows and podcasts, and learning about the healing power of self-acceptance. Most importantly, he is determined to get the word out to others who could benefit from hearing his story and the tools he’s acquired to help find peace.
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Kevin Smith Details His Personal Trauma, Bullying & Improving Mental Health | PEOPLE
37 Comments
When he talks about hero complex, I think of how he helped Mewes through his addiction.
Thank you for sharing this I learned a lot 👍🏽
Reminds me of the Vonnegut quote: "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be."
I suffered a complete mental breakdown, I was suffering from serotonin syndrome when I tried to end myself. I had been in therapy for 20 years but nobody diagnosed me with BPD and CPTSD. All caused by a childhood of being sexually, physically, and emotionally molested, I thought I was fine. Now at 48 I've spent two years trying to ask for forgiveness. Mental health is something we should all take seriously. I tried to tell my employer I needed a break and I got terminated. Don't let these things happen to you, take the time to heal.
Thank you Kevin .
This was awesome and so authentic. Suffering and trauma doesn't see colour or ethnicity, I've been around enough to know that personally as well. Groups of people have suffered corporately throughout history, but can we stop saying being white is automatic privilege when you and I have no idea what people have been through in their lives. Let's just take people as people, living through a human experience.
Wow; thanks Kevin.
Well done Kevin, -much love, man! ~peace (P.S. its a pleasure to meet you….finally!)
Yup. Me too. I got so many stories. I'm so glad you got help.
I just want to give Kevin a hug. I got to meet him and talk with him during his clerks 3 tour and it’s sad to know he was struggling then for our (fans) benefit. I got to tell him how much his movies helped us veterans through hard times. Glad he’s doing better.
What a guy. Safe travels, sir.
Thank you for sharing Kevin 💖💖💖
❤
Something about this particular video hit me hard this evening.
Kevin Smith most likely will never read this comment, but I want him to know he affected me in a good way this evening. Thank You.
Bless You Kevin
Trauma sucks, but it sure sucks less when you have money for treatment. Most people don't.
Nice
And the therapy induced speech about how bad weed is that I was expecting from Smith finally appears.
To those who need it, please look up Tim Fletcher. He is an addictions councillor specializing in trauma. So very good!
"Be a MAN" – ATSWG😂😂😂
I've been downplaying trauma for 25+ years. I too loath myself. And I'm slowly realizing it's due to unresolved trauma that I've compartmentalized. My heart goes out to anyone else struggling with this
He has always worn his heart and life on his sleeve but this a whole other level.
My respect for Kev also just went to a whole other level also. So much courage to do this. Much love and thanks to you Kev for this, Smodcast, everything ❤
Thank you Mr. Smith, I have been going through the darkest time of my life, and I suffer from PTSD. I don't have a close circle, and I needed the affirmation of a friend about these topics. Hearing this affirmation from someone I respect, and one day hope to emulate…. It was more powerful than you know. (I once quoted your decision to buy Red State and self market it to the Ontario Government in a business proposal, trying to get my novel off the ground. It didn't work out. But I'm still trying to achieve the dream, even if it's been 10 years and counting.)
Thank you, and take care of yourself.
I see the RDJ thing. You have the same kind of glow. You're in the humanity club that sees us. The same aura Keanu Reeves, RDJ, and others have.
The celebrities that you feel would stop and help you, human to human.
I can't speak for anyone else, but you feel like a "safe" famous person. A rarity these days.
Mr. Smith: you are my hero. Just for this. You don't have to do anything else. You have nothing to prove. You just are.
Not discounting your personal experience, but I'm not sure this is true. Psychologists seem to now be saying that ruminating on issues is what causes the depression and downward spiraling.
VERY valuable information.
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Well said Kevin! I was verbally bullied once I started Elementary school until I graduated high school at 18 years old. Self confidence is not really something I've ever had. Other people tell me now, at the age 44, that I'm doing very well at a LOT of things. I only push myself to see if I can do something. I couldn't care less if it benefits me, I really just want it to positively impact others.
Yoga Hosers 😂
Kevin I know this won't ever reach you but I feel this deeply and I never told anyone. I always loved how you looked at life which I thought. Seemed so happy but now knowing it was the other guy so sad. It's like looking in a mirror. I'm very upset and wish one day I will be able to turn my life back into a positive life😊
Spoken like a true millionaire. Who has 30 days to stop their life like that. I respect Kevin and the things he has done but only the wealthiest of wealthy get this type of help.
Thanks bro. Invaluable stuff being so raw and open. We love you (and it sounds like you’re starting to too.) Peace brotha!
why am i only seeing and hearing about this now? 🙁
Important videos like this never make trending… YouTube shows their true colors.
My god, I hadn't seen him in years 😮
I got so much out of finding this conversation. So many things clicked for me because of Kevin's talent for conveying a message. I have a friend who really needed to hear some of this, and much of the advice that I found I have put into practice, I realized, came from this video. So I was really happy to share it with them as well.
Kevin Smith Movies are literally my therapy.Thank You Kevin and Jason for being so real and loud about it. I love you guys so much❤