Breathe.

April 26, 2023 7:17 PM

In a lengthy and deeply personal video, Kevin Smith revisits his recent mental breakdown, discusses his decision to part with cannabis, and details the practical breathing and mindfulness techniques that have aided his journey to recovery. Content warning (CW) for discussion of sexual abuse.
posted by Gordion Knott (23 comments total)

Knowing MeFi's custom, the video may need a CW/TW flag.
^{That said, I'm not even supposed to be (logged in) here today...}
posted by zaixfeep at 3:10 AM on April 27, 2023

That was amazing.

Thank you for sharing it I don't think I would have seen it otherwise.
posted by Faintdreams at 5:12 AM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

There’s lot’s of support in the YouTube comments, and Kevin highlighted things worth thinking about. Thanks for posting.
posted by jozifd at 5:13 AM on April 27, 2023

“Don’t look for me online, kids, cause I’ma be looking for happiness” is a pretty good tagline
posted by staggernation at 5:52 AM on April 27, 2023 [3 favorites]

Yeah, amazing. Thanks for posting.
posted by Silvery Fish at 6:03 AM on April 27, 2023

Holy shit.
posted by sixswitch at 6:48 AM on April 27, 2023

I am very pleased to meet the real Kevin Smith.

Wishing you all the best, dude.
posted by Kitteh at 7:04 AM on April 27, 2023 [4 favorites]

I watched this last night while in the midst of my own personal mental health struggles and it helped me feel more grounded and not alone. This video came at the perfect time and has encouraged me to keep trying to get the help I need, even if I keep hitting dead ends. Thank you so much for posting.
posted by chara at 8:31 AM on April 27, 2023 [32 favorites]

I watched this last night while in the midst of my own personal mental health struggles and it helped me feel more grounded and not alone. This video came at the perfect time and has encouraged me to keep trying to get the help I need, even if I keep hitting dead ends. Thank you so much for posting.


Keep going Chara! You can do this!
posted by WatTylerJr at 8:36 AM on April 27, 2023 [11 favorites]

I love that logorrheic lug. He likes to share what's working for him. This is the best one he's shared.
posted by Lookinguppy at 9:48 AM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

I have to say, I'm so glad he's off the pot. He had the worst movie ideas ever with pot. Most people don't seem to be affected by it, but him....oy, can't say that. "Which could explain Yoga Hosers."
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:42 AM on April 27, 2023 [6 favorites]

Thank you for posting this. My life is good, but I’ve had trauma like anyone. Including sexual abuse, as he reminded me. I immediately came home and drew a comic about my experiences based on what he shared and said.

Sharing in case other people are scrolling the comments trying to figure out if they should watch. Trauma is trauma. It’s not a ranking system, it’s not logical, and it needs to be addressed. Watching this video may help you too.
posted by jragon at 11:57 AM on April 27, 2023 [6 favorites]

Most people don't seem to be affected by it, but him....oy, can't say that. "Which could explain Yoga Hosers."

And Tusk. The origin of that movie was an offhand comment or joke that someone made on one of his forums about a guy that turns into a walrus, and Smith was like "...well, fuck it, I'm gonna make that movie." A gamble that didn't pay off.

Just a reminder what a great raconteur and speaker he is. It's not an accident he's made a second career from podcasting and his stage shows.
posted by zardoz at 1:05 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

Oh god, Tusk *shudder* *shudder* *shudder*

I wonder how one starts getting over one's trauma if one can't afford a nice long stay at a mental hospital after watching this, though.

He's a personable dude who's very open about his shit, I always enjoy people like that, even if he calls that "the other guy" now. Does remind me of how "making being me my career," much as it's something I wish I could do, isn't doable though.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:20 PM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]

Man, is there ever a time I needed this. I've been intertwined with Kevin Smith for a good long while. I'm just slightly younger than him and I've been confused for him before. (Showed up at a comics signing he did back in the day at Golden Apple in a trench coat and he did a double take)

I've been a fat smartass since I was shopping in the "husky" section. I was relentlessly bullied for being fat, asthmatic and nerdy. Always the weird outcast kid that the adults liked because I was smart and good. I've always been the volunteer, do all the work, grind, grind, grind kid.

I'm exhausted. I'm snappy and unfocused in ways I've never been and I don't like it. Hearing this makes some things click for me. Just now what do I do with it?
posted by drewbage1847 at 1:24 PM on April 27, 2023 [12 favorites]

Thanks to Kevin and folks for sharing. He has made such a career of being him, this is wild to see him take a step back.

(If anyone wants to see Jersey Girl at the Smodcastle, I'm in...)
posted by armacy at 2:42 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

This was really great to watch. I've struggled with depression and low self-esteem for the past 20 years which I've coped with by isolating myself and developing an unhealthy addiction in an attempt to just shut my brain off. I've tried to get help a few times but it always felt like they just minimized my problems and didn't really help at all. I remember when I was in a group therapy in college that one of the other members told me I didn't need to be there cause outwardly I looked ok. I can always make jokes and make others think I'm doing fine. But that's because I felt that if anyone knew what I actually had going on in my brain I'd be rejected. Pretending I wasn't suffering was my way of protecting myself. I still have these issues but this video is inspiring me to keep working on myself because I'm just so tired of feeling like this. I've always liked Kevin Smith (even if I haven't really enjoyed many of his later films) and this just confirms why.
posted by downtohisturtles at 4:19 PM on April 27, 2023 [5 favorites]

Thank you for posting this. I've dealt with anxiety and depression in various unhelpful ways for years. I took up Zen practice over the last few months, which involves a lot of "just sitting" and focusing on the breath. It has worked remarkably well, both in changing the ways I consciously deal with internal chatter and perceptions, and in the unconscious improvement in mood and focus that daily practice brings.

It's not always easy (especially on my joints), but touching the here and now, even briefly, feels like tapping into one big, long, beautiful moment, and at the same time nurturing and warm and safe.

Try meditation, whatever style works for you. The more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it.
posted by swift at 7:15 PM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]

Please keep in mind that meditation definitely does not work for everyone, and harmful results are pretty common:

Making mindfulness meditation more helpful starts with understanding how it can be harmful

Of the 96 participants, 58% reported at least one meditation-related adverse effect, which ranged from perpetual hypersensitivity to nightmares to traumatic re-experiencing. Meditation-related adverse effects with negative impacts on functioning occurred in 37% of the sample. Six percent of the sample had “lasting bad effects,” or impairments in functioning lasting more than one month. Notably, the researchers say, this rate is similar to those of other psychological treatments.

posted by MrVisible at 7:57 PM on April 27, 2023 [5 favorites]

This was great. I'm so glad for him. Thanks for posting!
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:45 AM on April 28, 2023

I've thought similarly about Gabor Mate-- after tremendous and expensive efforts, Gabor Mate has done a lot to undo his trauma, but can this kind of work become affordable for more people? For all people?
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 6:37 AM on April 28, 2023 [2 favorites]

I have a story I’ve been going back and forth about sharing. Thank you for this.
posted by bendy at 10:21 PM on April 30, 2023

Finally had time to watch this and just wow.
posted by Mitheral at 12:46 PM on May 11, 2023 [1 favorite]