About alcoholism disease and treatments
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
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
Dementia is commonly associated with memory loss, confusion, and changes in thinking, but its effects are not limited to the mind. Depending on the type and stage of dementia, people may also experience noticeable changes in walking, balance, coordination, swallowing, continence, sleep, and their ability to complete everyday physical activities. These physical changes do not … Read more
For someone recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD), the thought “I’ll just have one drink” can seem harmless. A person may believe that after weeks, months, or years without alcohol, drinking is now something they can control. But for people whose recovery goal is abstinence, that first drink can represent an important relapse risk. Not … Read more
Relapse stories involving celebrities, athletes, musicians, and other public figures often attract headlines, but behind the publicity is an experience shared by many people living with substance use disorders. Recovery is rarely a perfectly straight path. A return to substance use can occur after months or even years of progress, especially when stress, cravings, untreated … Read more
Recovery from addiction involves much more than stopping alcohol or drug use. For many women, recovery also means confronting memories, damaged relationships, parenting concerns, financial consequences, lost opportunities, and decisions made while substance use was controlling their lives. As the mind becomes clearer, guilt about the past can become especially difficult to carry. Some guilt … Read more