Hey ya''ll! I know it's been a minute since my last post and my apologies, life has been BUSY! But anywho, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'd like to start it off by talking about the latest Red Table Talk featuring the Curry women. So if you haven't gotten a chance to check it out, please make sure you do especially with all of the controversy that's been going on with the interview. So without further delay... let's get into it.
Sometime last week while I was bored out of my mind at my internship site, I happened to be scrolling on twitter and noticed that Jada Pinkett's show happened to be trending, so i clicked on it and saw that they had just aired en episode featuring Ayesha Curry and all the important women within the Curry family. While watching it, Jada posed a question regarding how the women are able to handle the groupies and various women who frequently throw themselves at their men. Each gave their own answer that ranged from one end of the spectrum to another. Starting with Steph Curry's mom, who stated she loved the attention her man got from women and how at the end of the day, she was confident in knowing that women knew who she was and basically at the end of the night she knew he was coming home to her. When it got to Ayesha, she was honest and spoke about the anxiety and discomfort of how it felt to have to insert yourself, so other women were aware of who she was, in a conversation especially when women would come on to Steph. She also revealed that she suffers from anxiety and is currently taking medication to help her cope with it. But more importantly, lets be honest, there was nothing in regards to what she mentioned that MOST women don't think about or haven't at least at one point in their relationship thought about. It may vary in degree depending on what level of security the woman is at with herself. However, for her to take a vulnerable step like this on national tv was beautiful, insightful and courageous in my opinion.
It takes tremendous courage to speak upon what she did, especially when it comes to being honest about a mental disorder that one may have. There is so much taboo and stigma attached to mental health already and it can't possibly be easy to bare when it comes to it being you are the one in which is first hand affected by it. Anxiety has a host of varying levels and each individual expresses it different from the other. No two individuals express it 100% alike..let's be real. We even witnessed it when Willow talked about how her anxiety looks like having to engage in immediate physical activity in order to reach her baseline again and doesn't always have to triggered by those around her. Jada spoke on hers looking like having it in the presence of a sea of people, which as a celebrity that's your day to day life! Her means of coping in that situation was through taking someone within her family or social circle that loves to be in crowds in order to help her remain calm in those situations. If you ask me, there's nothing wrong at all with the way in which each of them cope or putting themselves in a vulnerable position to share that they deal with varying levels of anxiety on a daily bases. Ayesha also mentioned that something she did to aid in coping in those situations when her anxiety sets in when it comes to other women is talking about it with Steph and coming up with a plan on addressing this issue, which led to the solution of him taking the extra step to always being mindful that he is introducing her in those situations to help her feel reassured.
Moreover, alot of what Ayesha expressed in her interview including about the fact that it would be nice, although she doesn't plan on entertaining any of it, but flattering so to speak to have a few guys here and there to compliment her or show a form of interest, is normal especially for those who suffer from anxiety. As mentioned previously a lot of women are at different levels of security and some are at higher or even lower parts than others and there's nothing wrong with that so long as you are being open and honest about it especially if it's centered around the people within your life that play a part in some of those insecurities or anxieties. As a result, we as women should not be shaming and tearing her down for taking the initiative in sharing something so personal but instead have a conversation with other close women around you because odds are you aren't alone and you might just gain more security and learn a new healthy way to cope in addition to taking it a step further and having these conversations with those around you who cause you feel some big or small level of insecurity or anxiety, odds are they have no clue how this is effecting you or if it is at all and letting them know makes such a difference in the relationship. This is not just true within romantic ones but also with friendships, co-workers etc. So lay off of sis! Cus' it takes heart and alot of nerve to speak upon a mental disorder and some insecurities. We all have some kind of insecurity and they all vary from person to person. Instead of judging, lend a helpful and supportive hand and don't be afraid to reach out for help!
- xoxo Dom