Though the album was a triple-platinum success, its subject matter is rather dark.
In the trailer for the documentary, Blige also admits to experiencing seriousdepressionduring this point in her life.
“Most of the times, I was just depressed and didn’t want to live.”
“What made it hard was the environment,” Blige toldPeople.
“It was a lot of people hurting trying to survive and the environment was just terrible.
That’s all I can say.
Everybody did what they had to do to survive.”
“People chased us with weapons.
I never saw a woman there who wasn’t abused.
It was a dangerous place.”
“That thing followed me all my life,” she said.
Blige tried to escape though sex and substance abuse.
“It was bigger than me.
I had no self-respect.
I thought I was ugly.
Alcohol, sex, drugs I’d do whatever it took to feel better.”
Eventually, Mary J. Blige turned her life around.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
