About mental illness and addiction
Justin Bieber became internationally famous while still a teenager. To millions of fans, his rapid rise represented extraordinary success. Behind the fame, however, Bieber has publicly described periods of depression, anxiety, loneliness, substance misuse, emotional instability, and difficulty adjusting to enormous attention at a young age. His experiences demonstrate an important mental health lesson: success … Read more
Selena Gomez has spent much of her life in the public eye, first becoming famous as a young actress and later building an international career in music. Behind that success, she has publicly discussed significant mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Her willingness to talk about treatment and emotional struggles has helped … Read more
Jada Pinkett Smith has spoken publicly about periods in her younger life when alcohol, drugs, and other compulsive behaviors became problematic. Her story provides an opportunity to discuss how addiction does not always look the same from one person to another. Someone can maintain a career, relationships, and public success while privately recognizing that certain … Read more
Celebrity life is often associated with wealth, success, glamorous events, and seemingly unlimited opportunities. Yet behind the carefully managed public image, celebrities can experience the same substance use disorders, mental health challenges, trauma, grief, relationship problems, and emotional distress as anyone else. In some cases, the pressures surrounding fame can create additional barriers to recognizing … Read more
Feeling exhausted, emotionally drained, unmotivated, or desperate for relief can make someone wonder: Am I burned out, or is something more serious happening? Burnout and addiction can sometimes look similar from the outside. Both may involve changes in mood, declining performance, withdrawal from other people, disrupted sleep, irritability, and difficulty managing everyday responsibilities. They are … Read more
Manipulation is not always easy to identify because it may be subtle rather than openly controlling or threatening. It can appear through guilt, excessive compliments, silence, blame, fear, pressure to act quickly, or comments that cause you to question your own judgment. These emotional triggers may be used intentionally or unintentionally to influence how you … Read more
Britney Spears has spent much of her life under extraordinary public scrutiny. From becoming internationally famous as a teenager to highly publicized personal difficulties, psychiatric interventions, and nearly 14 years under a conservatorship, her experiences have generated worldwide discussion about mental health, personal autonomy, and the way society responds when a celebrity appears to be … Read more
Actor, comedian, and podcast host Dax Shepard has spoken openly about his struggles with alcohol and other drugs, as well as the challenges of maintaining recovery. His experience provides an important reminder that addiction recovery is not always a straight path. Even after many years without alcohol or illicit drugs, vulnerability can remain, and relapse … Read more
Fergie, best known as a member of the Black Eyed Peas and for her successful solo career, has spoken openly about a difficult period involving crystal methamphetamine use before achieving greater stability in her life. Her experience demonstrates an important reality about substance use disorders: outward talent, ambition, and professional success do not necessarily protect … Read more
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