Lil Durk Discusses How Therapy Has Helped Him "Cope Different"

Lil Durk says that he started going to therapy in order to learn how to "cope different." Speaking with XXL for a recent interview, the 30-year-old rapper explained that he's had trouble showing emotion in the past.

“Being more open. Being more open to letting [my new manager] Pete [Jideonwo] in,” he said. “Moving certain people out the way. That’s the best feeling. Therapy, the kids, the new team, all that. But the best feeling is really just starting over.”

Durk continued: “I got a therapist so I cope different. … I don’t show emotion. So, some people will be like, ‘Man, you can’t hold it in.’ And I just can’t talk to nobody usually. You gotta be careful how you tell people, what you tell people, because they can use it against you. They can find out your weaknesses. So now, when I talk to the therapist, then it start getting more emotional. But like somebody on the street, you’ll never even see me shed a tear.” When asked if he started going to therapy to work through all death he's experienced in his life, including the loss of King Von, Durk remarked, "Nah, I think I had to go to therapy fresh out the womb."

Durk is far from the only rapper working on destigmatizing mental healthcare. Kendrick Lamar also recently opened up about going to therapy and the role it played in his latest album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Addressing the topic during Spotify’s mini-documentary, A Day In Ghana With Kendrick Lamar, he explained: “We learn to hold all our shit in. Shit, I’mma keep it 100 with you, it wasn’t my forte when people mention it to me. I’m stuck how my pops think,” he said. “I challenged myself to go to therapy. Shit, that’s like a whole new step in a whole new generation. That’s growth.” Check out Lil Durk's XXL interview below.

[Via]