Diabetes is usually discussed in terms of blood glucose, insulin, nutrition, exercise, and medications. Yet another issue can sometimes remain hidden behind unstable glucose levels: problematic substance use or compulsive behavior. Alcohol, nicotine, opioids, stimulants, cannabis, and other substances can complicate diabetes management in different ways. Eating disorders and recurrent binge-eating behaviors may also interfere … Read more
Losing a child is one of the most profound forms of grief a person can experience. Alongside sadness, anger, disbelief, loneliness, and longing, many parents experience another painful emotion: the feeling that they failed their child. Thoughts such as “I should have known,” “I should have done more,” “Why didn’t I stop this?” or “I … Read more
Edgar Allan Poe is remembered for The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, and other haunting works that transformed American literature. Behind his literary achievements, however, was a life marked by repeated loss, financial insecurity, unstable relationships, periods of emotional distress, and problematic alcohol use. Historical accounts indicate that Poe experienced recurring episodes of heavy drinking and … Read more
Vincent van Gogh is remembered for extraordinary paintings such as The Starry Night and Sunflowers, but behind his artistic achievements was a life marked by loneliness, financial hardship, poor nutrition, emotional instability, recurring mental health crises, and heavy alcohol consumption. Historical evidence indicates that Van Gogh drank heavily at periods of his life, particularly wine, … Read more
Benjamin Franklin is remembered as a Founding Father, inventor, writer, diplomat, and advocate for self-improvement. Less often discussed is his complicated relationship with alcohol and the drinking culture of eighteenth-century America. Franklin drank wine and other alcoholic beverages and occasionally recorded occasions when he drank more freely than he thought was wise. However, historical evidence … Read more
Eric Clapton is regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in rock music, but behind his extraordinary career was a prolonged struggle with addiction. During the 1970s and 1980s, Clapton experienced serious problems involving heroin and alcohol that affected his health, relationships, personal life, and music. His recovery did not occur in one perfect … Read more
Samuel L. Jackson is recognized worldwide for roles in Pulp Fiction, Jungle Fever, The Avengers, and many other films. Long before becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, however, Jackson experienced serious problems with alcohol and drugs. Jackson has spoken publicly about years of drinking and drug use while building his acting career. His experience … Read more
Most people occasionally return to make sure they locked the door, turned off the stove, or unplugged an appliance. With obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), however, checking can become an exhausting cycle. A person may check the same lock repeatedly and still walk away thinking, “But what if I didn’t check it correctly?” OCD is not simply … Read more
Recovery stories can be powerful. Hearing someone describe overcoming addiction may provide hope to people who are struggling and remind families that meaningful change is possible. Social media has made these stories more visible than ever, with celebrities, influencers, treatment advocates, and everyday people sharing their experiences publicly. But not every recovery story should automatically … Read more
Celebrity recovery stories are often presented publicly as inspiring transformations. What audiences do not always see is that recovery can include setbacks, and relapse may occur privately long before anyone outside a person’s inner circle realizes something has changed. For celebrities, maintaining privacy may be even more complicated because careers, contracts, public expectations, financial responsibilities, … Read more