Noah Cyrus On Getting and Giving Support

Transcript

I wrote this song last year and that was one of the hardest years of my life. I felt stuck in this place that I could not get out of for a while and I felt like I had no control over my life. I just needed to get it out. You know- I needed the conversation because I couldn't take it in my body anymore. Like I couldn't take the feeling of anxiety circling in my chest. I couldn't take that anymore or I was gonna explode. That's how I felt. No one understood it. No one around me understood it. Then one day my manager called me and he said, "I just talked to a friend for a really long time and I now understand what you're going through and I'm here for you if you need me." And that shifted everything for me. Just knowing that one person on my team understood. I think the main focus with people with anxiety and depression is speaking out about it. That's how I got out of it. Cuz if I would have just kept it to myself I would have never gotten the help that I needed. Go to talk to your doctor, go to talk to your counselor at school, talk to a friend, family member or somebody. Go to an adult. Speak up louder. Cuz once you do you're gonna find help. And the people that aren't suffering- just open your ears a little bit more. 'Are you ok? Is anything going on you wanna talk about? I'm here for you. I love you.' Let them know that they're supported. That they can come to you and that you are that person for them. I mean sometimes I don't know how to solve the problem. I'm only 19. I don't know how to solve a problem. I'm a baby. But if somebody's struggling emotionally I can come and help you. And so I feel like that's my strength, you know. Like I'm not gonna be able to ace a math test but I can definitely help someone out who's hurting or feeling the same emotions as me, you know? I think I missed so many happy moments last year. And I'm definitely appreciating life more. I just think it's important to live your life happily while you're on this earth. You only get one shot at it. For ways to start the conversation, check out SeizeTheAwkward.org.