I consider Jarren Benton a lyricist rather than a rapper, because of his unique style, vocal clarity, and given the range of subject matter he explores. Although other hip hop heads may disagree with this characterization, I’m unconcerned with their opinions.
In any case, on the lyricist’s 2017 album The Mink Coat Killa, Benton dropped the track “Mental Issues” which featured the melodic vocals of Sareena Dominguez. On the hook, Dominguez stated:
I got issues
I gotta get through
They’re gonna miss you when you’re gone
I need a life line
Waiting on my sign
I’m doing my time, here we go
Will I take your breath away
Or will I take my last today?
I got issues
An “issue” is merely a vital or unsettled matter. In the context of mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), mental issues colloquially relate to mental illnesses or disorders. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s definition:
Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses can be associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.
Although “mental illness” and “mental disorder” are terms which are often used synonymously, the former is a dated phrase while the latter is used more contemporarily. According to the American Psychological Association’s definition of a mental disorder, the following applies:
[A]ny condition characterized by cognitive and emotional disturbances, abnormal behaviors, impaired functioning, or any combination of these. Such disorders cannot be accounted for solely by environmental circumstances and may involve physiological, genetic, chemical, social, and other factors.
Regardless of whether or not one prefers “mental illness” or “mental disorder,” mental issues generally regard vital or unsettled matters relating to one’s psychological functioning. In common parlance, these matters are simply referred to as “issues.”
On the Benton track, Dominguez self-declares the existence of her issues. She also uses a preferential should statement (“gotta”) in regard to getting “through” the mental health challenges faced by the singer.
When practicing rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), I advocate use of personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”) for one’s own experience with mental health issues. Concerning this matter, I stated in a blogpost entitled Iss-ME vs. Iss-YOU:
An iss-ME is a problem that concerns me. I needn’t make my challenge a concern for others. Why? Because it’s my issue, not yours.
An iss-YOU is a matter concerning you, not me. You needn’t transfer your mess to me. Why? This is a you issue, not my problem.
Similar to how Dominguez ostensibly expressed that she’s preferentially “gotta get through” her issues, when I have an iss-ME it’s me who needs to take personal ownership of the matter. Likewise, when you experience an iss-YOU it’s you who’s gotta take personal ownership.
Unlike Dominguez who stated, “Waiting on my sign, I’m doing my time,” I maintain that people recommendatorily should take active-directive measures in order to decrease their own level of self-disturbance. To better understand what I mean, consider the ABC model of REBT.
REBT theory maintains that when an unexpected Activating event (“Action”) occurs and a person uses an irrational Belief about the situation, it’s one’s unhelpful attitude and not the undesirable circumstance that causes unpleasant emotional, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.
Rather than remaining self-disturbed, an individual is invited to try Disputation which may lead to an Effective new belief that’s used in place of an unproductive self-narrative. With the ABC model, a person learns to stop needless suffering which is caused by unhelpful assumptions.
Given this framework to rational living, when Dominguez stated, “Will I take your breath away or will I take my last today?” her casual allusion to suicidal and homicidal ideation was the unproductive result of a belief-consequence connection, not an action-consequence connection.
In other words, the vocalist upset herself with unfavorable beliefs and this unproductive process caused thoughts of harm which may’ve influence her behavior if left unchallenged. Expanding upon this self-disturbance paradigm, Benton stated in his first verse:
And why do I feel so numb, the pain should make you grow
More antidepressants to chase ‘em down your throat, uh
These fucking doctors trippin’
They give you cliché advice to offer you prescriptions
I try to hide the hurt, like they can’t see a fucking difference
Avoid all of my friends so they can’t see a nigga slipping, uh
Stuck in a bed, like fuck life
Sleep the day away
I don’t wanna get up, right
Unattended to my kids
No energy to throw the ball like I don’t wanna live
Far be it for me, a person who’s been diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), to outright state that all depressive symptoms are the result of self-disturbed beliefs. All the same, I maintain that people with MDD symptoms expressed by Benton can make matters worse for themselves.
With little doubt, many of my mental issues of the past were exacerbated by an unhealthy attitude. Similar to how Benton expressed amotivation and a desire not to live, I’ve experienced both suicidal and homicidal ideation when my unfavorable beliefs were left undisputed.
Before I knew anything about REBT, I suffered quite a bit. Now, I’ve found a way to maintain a good enough standard of living that affords me an ability to achieve a contented existence. Apparently, given Benton’s statement in his final verse, the lyricist could also benefit from REBT:
I pray that I find the courage to ask somebody for help
Scared to let you see my weakness
Suppressing ways that I felt
Just know that you’re not alone
That’s why I’m writing this song
I feel it like you feel it
Just find a way to move on
Some days, I feel like I’m living in Hell
Gotta find a cure for this mental health
First, enduring symptoms of MDD or other mental issues isn’t akin to “weakness.” This is merely the matter of a fallible human being who experiences a set of criteria which suggests that suffering is present.
Second, I appreciate how Benton expressed that others aren’t alone regarding the experience of mental issues. Even if not clinically significant enough to qualify for a diagnosis of MDD, it can be quite challenging for many people to endure self-disturbed consequences of unfavorable beliefs.
Third, Benton’s use of the word “feel” is an accurate description of the psychological and physiological consequences (i.e., feelings) one may endue in regard to mental issues. Therefore, I applaud his proper use of the term in this regard.
Last, and unlike Dominguez’s helpful use of the word, Benton used a conditional should narrative when stating that he’s “gotta find a cure for this mental health.” This usage represents an inflexible form of demandingness. About this matter, I’ll address two points.
(1) Unhelpfully believing, “I conditionally must find a cure for this mental health” sets a rigid framework whereby the lyricist afforded himself no other balanced alternatives to a solution for his issue. It’s a matter of either finding a cure or enduring “Hell.”
Rather than establishing an unaccommodating condition of this sort, I’d invite Benton to consider non-binary alternatives. For instance, once can (a) find a “cure” for mental health, (b) live in psychological Hell, or (c) seek a good enough standard of living with mental issues.
(2) I dispute the notion of seeking a “cure” for mental health. Regarding this matter, one source accurately states:
While there is no cure for mental health conditions, certain treatments can help manage symptoms and improve a patient’s quality of life. Medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes can all improve symptoms, allowing patients to achieve their goals.
I don’t practice REBT in my personal or professional life with the intention of curing myself or other people. Rather, mental issues can be treated or managed with a subjective degree of success. This slight perspective shift can make a difference in the framing of this matter.
At any rate, I appreciate “Mental Issues” and how Benton and Dominguez addressed this important topic. If you’d like to know more about how REBT may help you to achieve a higher level of functioning and improved quality of life, I’m here to try to help you in this regard.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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Og_Whitlock. (2022). Discovered Jarren Benton a week ago and he’s definitely underrated. So far Skitzo, As You Are, and Monclear Jacket are my top 3 I’ve heard so far from him [Image]. Reddit. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/rap/comments/11orhwj/discovered_jarren_benton_a_week_ago_and_hes/
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Wikipedia. (n.d.). The Mink Coat Killa. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mink_Coat_Killa
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