Pete Davidson’s Mental Health Struggle in His Own Words

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Pete Davidson’s Mental Health Struggle in His Own Words

Pete Davidson has been open about his mental health battle since being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in September 2017. The Saturday Night Live comedian hasn’t shied away from sharing his experience with fans in the hopes that his journey can be helpful to those in similar situations. Davidson — who made headlines in December 2018 for admitting that his mental health has been impacted by his split from fiancée Ariana Grande two months earlier — has shared many heartfelt quotes about his struggles. Scroll down to revisit his most meaningful sentiments.

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Pete Davidson’s Mental Health Struggle in His Own Words

Pete Davidson has been open about his mental health battle since being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in September 2017. The Saturday Night Live comedian hasn’t shied away from sharing his experience with fans in the hopes that his journey can be helpful to those in similar situations. Davidson — who made headlines in December 2018 for admitting that his mental health has been impacted by his split from fiancée Ariana Grande two months earlier — has shared many heartfelt quotes about his struggles. Scroll down to revisit his most meaningful sentiments.

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Sharing His Story

In September 2017, the Big Time Adolescence actor revealed his borderline personality disorder diagnosis. “I’ve been a pothead forever. Around October [or] September last year, I started having these mental breakdowns where I would, like, freak out and then not remember what happened after. Blind rage,” he disclosed on the “WTF With Marc Maron” podcast. “I never really did any drugs, so I was, like, ‘I’m gonna try to go to rehab. Maybe that’ll be helpful.’ So I go and get off weed. They told me, they’re like, ‘You might be bipolar.’ … One of my psychiatrists [diagnosed me].”

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Speaking His Truth

“As some of you know, I was recently diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a form of depression,” Davidson shared during an October 2017 episode of SNL. “First of all, if you think you’re depressed, see a doctor and talk with him about medication and also, be healthy. Eating right and exercise can make a huge difference.”

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Living His Best Life

In May 2018, after his relationship with Grande made headlines, the Set It Up actor slammed trolls who said he shouldn’t date her because of his mental illness. “Just because someone has a mental illness does not mean they can’t be happy and in a relationship,” he wrote on his Instagram Story at the time. “It also doesn’t mean that person makes the relationship toxic … Mental illness is not a joke it’s a real thing. There’s kids out there killing themselves. And it’s f—king horrific. For all those struggling I want you to know that I love you and I understand you and it’s going to be OK. That’s all. Love to everyone else.” 

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Off the Wagon

Davidson appeared on Open Late in June 2018 and revealed that he started smoking and drinking again following his diagnosis. “Party’s back on. I found out I had a mental disorder. I thought I had a drug problem. It’s a completely different thing,” he explained. “You can be sad and do drugs at the same time, evidently. I got sober for three months and I was just, like, never sadder and everything was just way worse.” 

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Beating the Odds

The comedian told Variety in August 2018 that he’s struggled to come to terms with his disorder. “The last few years have been real rough with me,” he said. “I took all these mental health classes and really spent a lot of time getting me good.”

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Staying Strong

Davidson spoke out about being bullied following his October 2018 split from Grande. “I’ve been getting online bullied and in public by people for 9 months. I’ve spoken about BPD and being suicidal publicly only in the hopes that it will help bring awareness and help kids like myself who don’t want to be on this earth,” he wrote in December 2018 in a heartfelt Instagram post. “I just want you guys to know. No matter how hard the internet or anyone tries to make me kill myself. I won’t.”

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Fatherhood Hopes

“I would love to be a dad, ‘cause I feel like it’s the one [thing] that would keep me here,” Davidson told Paper for the magazine’s December 2019 cover story. “Everybody that I talk to that’s had a kid and who used to be depressed says it just alters this part of your brain.”

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Staying Open

In the same interview, the SNL star explained why he’s candid about his mental health. “I think if you’re able to be open, it’s really good,” he said. “It’s reassuring when you hear someone that you admire talk about [topics like that] publicly, because it’s an embarrassing thing sometimes.”

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Friend Support

Davidson told Tan France in a July 2019 YouTube video that he’s comfortable speaking to his friends about his mental health issues. “I mean, we all talk about it,” the comedian said. “I’ll be like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna be weird today.’ And they’re like, ‘Oh, all right.’ Well, that’s the wonderful thing about everyone knowing I’m nuts now, is now they don’t think I’m a d--k. They’re like, ‘Oh, yeah. He’s just having a rough one today.’”

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Very Upfront

In a February 2020 interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Davidson said that he is forthcoming with dates about his mental health struggles. “I like to be very upfront about that so there’s no, like, surprises,” he said. “I don’t want you to be surprised if I cut myself or if I have to go away [to] a rehab or if I have to go to certain therapy. It breaks the ice easier. … I don’t want to waste your time.” 

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Coping Strategies

The comedian said in the same interview that he has learned how to deal with his times being manic and upset. “You go to rehab and learn, like, you can take cold showers, you can work out, you can listen to music really loud, you can read this excerpt, you can go on the Calm app, you can call a friend,” he said. “There’s so much s—t you learn.” 

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Suicidal Thoughts

Davidson opened up about the severity of his past experiences with suicidal thoughts. “I got as close as you can get. I mean, just, like testing the waters,” he said of being suicidal during CBS Sunday Morning in June 2020. “And until I met the right treatments and met the right doctors and did all the work that you need to do to, like, not feel that way, it got pretty dark and scary.”