Exploring Charlamagne Tha God’s Mental Health Journey

I’m here to share a few more thoughts on Charlamagne Tha God’s book, Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me.

Alright, so I’ve touched on his book before. Charlamagne Tha God, known as a radio and media personality, delves into his journey of navigating mental health challenges and the insights he’s gained through therapy over the years.

The main focus of the book is to provide readers with a glimpse into Charlamagne’s life from a mental health perspective. He candidly discusses his struggles with severe anxiety, and possibly depression, and even mentions grappling with suicidal thoughts at one point, which might be somewhat downplayed in the book.

The aim is to destigmatize mental health by opening up about his own experiences and family history. Charlamagne emphasizes how not discussing these issues within families can hinder the development of coping mechanisms, especially considering possible genetic factors.

Breaking the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

By sharing his journey and the positive impact therapy has had on his life, Charlamagne hopes to encourage others to seek help for their mental health struggles.

Additionally, Charlamagne highlights the importance of practicing healthy mental health habits, even if one isn’t dealing with a specific issue. Whether it’s regularly seeing a therapist or engaging in activities like walking, talking to a friend, or journaling, he underscores the value of seeking professional help when needed.

When you know who you are you never have to worry about how to act or what to do in any situation; you can just relax and be you.
― Charlamagne Tha God, Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me

Practicing Healthy Mental Health Habits

Again, even if you do not have any major problems, it’s still a good idea to do something to exercise your mental health and strengthen yourself. The brain is an organ, and we should treat it like a muscle, something we use every day and should keep healthy. Just like we think about working our skeletal muscles by going to the gym or jogging, we should also prioritize our mental health by watching what we feed our minds and how we use them, ensuring both are strengthened.

So, we need to take care of it when it’s in a state of distress and also engage in regular maintenance. I think that’s one thing that Charlamagne Tha God tries to accomplish not just with this book, but also in his daily life.

Overcoming Preconceptions: Charlamagne’s Approach

I came across a couple of reviews on Amazon.com, and I guess some people probably weren’t familiar with Charlamagne Tha God. They were a little taken aback by the language in his book. This isn’t your pastor talking about his mental health problems; this is a popular radio host, who was once known for being a bit edgy and has been called a shock jock.

So, he uses explicit language at times and details some sexually explicit scenes, which might catch some readers off guard, especially if they’re very conservative. But overall, if you don’t take anything else from the book, just know that Charlamagne Tha God has dealt with mental health issues his whole life, some of which may be genetic or inherited, and some exacerbated by his lifestyle, such as selling drugs and constantly worrying about the authorities.

It’s okay to see a professional and get regular maintenance. It’s okay to seek help and open up about our mental health struggles with friends and family to destigmatize it and feel comfortable getting the help we need.

The Power of Audio: Listening to Charlamagne’s Story

I listened to the audio version, which was narrated by Charlamagne Tha God.

I don’t know what it’s like to physically read this book, but I would imagine that listening to it is much better. After all, the authors speaks for a living, hosting a radio show every day and runs his own podcast. So, similar to when I listened to Tiffany Haddish’s book, it’s probably almost a better idea to listen to the audio version, especially when the author’s career is centered around communication.

Good read, good listen.

Original draft written in October 2019