Doechii Opens Up About Her Darkest Moments and How She Found Strength

Doechii has opened up about wrestling with suicidal thoughts after being bullied in school. Doechii has bravely shared her past struggles with suicidal thoughts as a result of severe bullying during her school years. Speaking to The Cut, the Grammy Award-winning rapper revealed the origin story of her stage name, which she believes was divinely inspired during one of the darkest moments of her life in the 6th grade.

“I don’t want to get super-dark [but] I was getting bullied so bad that I was thinking about killing myself,” she told the publication. She recounted how, during that period, God guided her to write down the phrase “I am Doechii.”

Turning Pain Into Power

However, instead of succumbing to the torment of bullies, Doechii made a powerful realization that changed the course of her life.

“I realized, Oh, f–k, I’m gonna kill myself and then I’m gonna be the only one dead. The bullies aren’t gonna be with me, and everything they said is not coming with me either. I would just be gone,” she explained.

It was in this moment that Doechii experienced a profound mental shift and chose to fight back against the pain.

“And then I was like, F–k that! F–k that sh–! I’m not going for that! And this wash of peace came over me, and I received ‘I am Doechii.’”

This was the moment she reclaimed her power, choosing to see herself as the central character in her own story rather than a victim.

“I made a choice, a decision. I am the most important character in this movie. This is my motherf–king movie.”

Bullying and Mental Health Struggles Among Artists

Doechii is not the only Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) star to have faced bullying and its impact on mental health.

Fellow TDE artist SZA has also spoken out about the torment she endured in high school, which ultimately shaped her into the artist and woman she is today.

“I was bullied because I wasn’t quiet and I was awkward at the same time. I wasn’t this tiny sad victim, but I was more so attacked just because it was giving ‘What is wrong with you?’ energy,” she told PEOPLE in 2023.

She described the feelings of isolation and self-doubt that followed her throughout adolescence:

“I always thought, ‘Oh my God. I’ll never have the approval of anyone in life, this must be my defining factor, this must be the bottom line.’”

However, SZA, much like Doechii, found strength in her pain and used it as fuel for her success.  She shared how her high school struggles ultimately pushed her to achieve more and reach new heights in her career.

“I realized that all the things that made me feel so lame were actually what made me into who I am.”

She shared how her high school struggles ultimately pushed her to achieve more and reach new heights in her career.

“It’s like, I didn’t go to prom because I didn’t have any friends and I had no one to go to prom with … [and now] it’s so weird that my life turned into [having] a bodyguard while traveling to parties.”

“If I had such a fulfilling existence and experience in high school, I would’ve felt validated to the point where I didn’t need to do anymore. [So] I just had to do more, I had to be more because I was like, ‘This shitty experience can’t be the end of it because if it is, I am cooked.’”

Success Despite the Struggles

Fortunately, both women have not only survived their painful pasts, but they have thrived. Fortunately, both women have not only survived their painful pasts, but they have thrived. Doechii recently celebrated a huge victory at the Grammys, taking home the Best Rap Album award for Alligator Bites Never Heal while also delivering a show-stopping performance that cemented her place among the industry’s elite. Meanwhile, SZA has continued her meteoric rise in the music world. She recently performed alongside Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl halftime show and released a highly anticipated expansion of her chart-topping album, SOS.

Doechii’s Rise to Stardom

Doechii recently celebrated a huge victory at the Grammys, taking home the Best Rap Album award for Alligator Bites Never Heal while also delivering a show-stopping performance that cemented her place among the industry’s elite.

SZA’s Continued Success

Meanwhile, SZA has continued her meteoric rise in the music world. She recently performed alongside Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl halftime show and released a highly anticipated expansion of her chart-topping album, SOS. SZA previously admitted that she, too, was targeted by bullies in high school — an experience which moulded her into the person she is today. “I was bullied because I wasn’t quiet and I was awkward at the same time. I wasn’t this tiny sad victim, but I was more so attacked just because it was giving ‘What is wrong with you?’ energy,” she told PEOPLE in 2023.

A Message of Hope

Both artists serve as powerful examples that it is possible to rise above adversity, no matter how painful or isolating it may feel at the moment. For anyone currently struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health challenges, there is help available.

If you or someone you know is in distress, please reach out to the toll-free, 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. You are not alone, and support is available.

No matter how difficult life may seem, there is always a path forward. Doechii and SZA’s journeys remind us that challenges can be overcome, pain can be turned into strength, and even the darkest moments can lead to a brighter future. Whether through music, art, or personal growth, healing is possible. Their stories stand as a testament to resilience, proving that those who endure hardships can emerge stronger, wiser, and ready to inspire others. If you are facing struggles, remember that your story is not over yet—there is still so much more to come. Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or their mental health is encouraged to call the toll-free 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.