Kim Kardashian West has broken her silence about her husband Kanye West and his mental health.
The reality star shared her thoughts on social media on Wednesday morning and asked the public for “compassion” as she confirmed that Yeezy is going through a manic episode stemming from his bipolar disorder.
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“As many of you know, Kanye has bi-polar disorder. Anyone who has this or has a loved one in their life who does, knows how incredibly complicated and painful it is to understand,” Kardashian West shared on her Instagram Story.
“I’ve never spoken publicly about how this has affected us at home because I am very protective of our children and Kanye’s right to privacy when it comes to his health. But today, I feel like I should comment on it because of the stigma and misconceptions about mental health.”
She continued: “Those that understand mental illness or even compulsive behavior know that the family is powerless unless the member is a minor,” she said. “People who are unaware or far removed from this experience can be judgmental and not understand that the individual themselves have to engage in the process of getting help no matter how hard family and friends try.”
The Kardashian family has come under fire from critics who have suggested they aren’t doing enough to help Kanye West through his mental illness after the rapper exhibited weeks of unusual, erratic behavior and posted several troubling tweets.
“I understand Kanye is subject to criticism because he is a public figure and his actions at time can cause strong opinions and emotions,” Kardashian added.
“He is a brilliant but complicated person who on top of being an artist and a black man, who experienced the painful loss of his mother, and has to deal with the pressure and isolation that is heightened by his bi-polar disorder. Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words sometimes do not align with his intentions.
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“Living with bi-polar disorder does not diminish or invalidate his dreams and his creative ideas, no matter how big or unobtainable they may feel to some. That is part of his genius and as we have all witnessed, many of his dreams have come true,” she continued.
“We as a society talk about giving grace to the issue of mental health as a whole, however we should also give it to the individuals who are living with it in times when they need it the most. I kindly ask that the media and public give us the compassion and empathy that is needed so that we can get through this. Thank you for those who have expressed concern for Kanye’s well-being and for your understanding.”
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