As seen on Michael Baisden Live  (a paid partnership)

In the latest episode of Jada Pinkett Smith’s web series, “Red Table Talk”, Willow Smith reveals that during the height of her young music career , she lost herself at one point and entered a dark chapter in her life.

The teen, her mother and grandmother were discussing the impact of losing someone and surviving their loss. When Jada asked Willow about her biggest loss, she revealed it was her sanity at one point.

Following the stardom of her 2010 hit single, “Whip My Hair”, the 17 year-old says she went through a gray area of self-identity, purpose and self-worth.

“Like is there anything I can do besides this [sing],” Willow reflects about that time in her life. The pressure to finish her album, along with the chaos of touring and promotion had the then 9 year-old at a low in her life.

“I was just listening to a lot of dark music,” she said. “It was just so crazy and I was just like plunged into this black hole and I was like cutting myself.”

 

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The teen admitted to cutting herself on the wrist.

“I mean you can’t even see it but there’s still a little something there,” she said, pointing out the faint marks to her mother, “but totally lost my sanity for a little bit there.”

Nevertheless, the revelation shocked both her mother and grandmother. Her mother, Jada, was visibly emotional and stunned by her daughter’s secret. She and her mother, Adrienne Banfield Jones, said she had no idea what her daughter was doing and neither did Willow’s brothers, Jaden and Trey. But Willow said she never talked about it or shared it with anyone because it was such a “weird, short point” in her life, but she added she had to pull herself out of it.

Photo Credit: Red Table Talk

“I honestly felt like I was experiencing so much emotional pain, but my physical circumstances weren’t reflecting that,’ she said.

Jada asked her daughter if she believed the self-harm she did to herself made the pain more tangible and Willow agreed, saying it was something she could put her finger on. But one night she came to a realization.

“This is actually psychotic and after that, I just stopped,”she said. She adds that she has not harmed herself in five years; the news was a sigh of relief for her mother and grandmother.

“A lot of adolescent girls struggle with self-harm,” Willow said.

Photo Credit: Entertainment Tonight

According to consumer mental health site, healthplace.com, 90% of people who harm themselves begin in their adolescent years and nearly 60% of those who engage in self-injury behavior are females.

If you suspect your teen is harming themselves, call the self-injury 24-hour hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.

 

To catch up on more episodes of the “Red Table Talk”, click here

 

 

BY:

alexia1.mckay@gmail.com

Alexia is the publisher and editor-in-chief of RoyalTee Magazine and the founder of RoyalTee Enterprises.