how do you feel about celebrities publicly checking into rehab?

Question

Jade after all the BB racism row - checks in, checks out, then is back in heat magazine talking about her "hell"
Robbie Williams checking in just after his last record flops when compared to his former band mates success (poor robbie and his millions eh?)
Etc Etc.
Does this actually make rehab a joke for those people who actually need it around this country. And conversely, does that mean everybody who has actually been to rehab for legitimate reasons, is now worthy of celebrity status?

Answer 1

I have suffered from depression and It is not a barrel of laughs. When I went back to work I was subjected to a variety of interviews and medical assessments that were supposed to make me feel that
my employers were being cuddly-feely about my welfare, but anyone with one degree of sense will realise that they are just protecting their own backsides in case I, and my Trades Union, had found legitimate cause to sue. All that these efforts did for me was to make me feel insecure in my employment and could well have precipitated another bout of depression. It is interesting that I was made redundant, less than a year after returning to work after a 5 month absence because of depression. I welcomed the redundancy - I had 31 years service with my employers and got a good payout, and I was heartily glad to get out and away from the exploitative rat-race.

Apropos celebrities. Why are they celebrated so? Why is Robbie Williams a celebrity instead of Beethoven? Williams just about manages 2nd species counterpoint in his music, but it hardly compares, in achievement, to Wagner or Stravinsky. Williams I suppose, has entertainment value; nevertheless, I've heard better singers on a karaoke in my local pub.

How can anyone freak out on Seroxat (Paxil). I was on the stuff and all it did for me was to make my testicles shrink. I was then stuck on to Prozac, and I lost all sensitivity at the end of my penis. Venlofaxine worked well for a while, and I finished my treatment on an older antidepressant (citalopram?). I've stuck to good old English bitter ale and Scotch and Irish whisk(e)y since my cure was effected. Thank goodness, my testicles have returned to a normal size and my willie end id slowly sorting itself out.

We have a poor sense of priorities in the UK . How on earth did Jade Goody ever become a celebrity? What provokes a single person who lives in the UK to give the slightest credence to this moron? I can understand Mr Beckham's claim - he is a brilliant footballer, whose skill with the ball can only be inborn - he is to football what Menuhin was to music, a total, natural for his art, and I would call Beckham's football an art, and place it on a similar pedestal to that of Menuhin, although I am more qualified to comment on music than football, as I have two left feet!

Rehabilitation for alcohol, drugs or mental illness is a valid therapy, but it is only available on the NHS for those who are so seriously incapacitated that they cannot function on their own, and then, only if they live on their own, without a partner who can earn money and look after the afflicted person. I know this from experience. I get very angry when the likes of Williams books into therapy with a flourish of trumpets (which he could not orchestrate himself), whereas my wife, who has had Obsessive Complusive Disorder, and how had Generalised Anxiety Syndrome, can get no treatment other than palliative medication, cannot work, and cannot even get a subsistence allowance from the State, because I earn £12000 pa as a Security Guard and have a pension of £4000 pa from my previous employment. Her condition was not caused by substance abuse.

Jade Goody is not worth a light, Williams is a pathetic poser, and they would both do well to donate a significant portion of their wealth to a cause that will enable my wife, and others like her, to get decent treatment.

Answer 2

Just because you're a celebrity makes you vulnerable to criticism and publicity. I don't think Robbie Williams etc wants or needs to be known for his substance abuse and trying to kick it. I think if anyone checks into a rehab clinic then at least they are aware they have a major problem, and millions of people that have been "cured" fall off the wagon, again and again.
It's the same old story if your famous:
You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

I worked in a secure unit where there was one patient who was "famous" on the outside, but inside she was treated like any other patient. No privileges even though she was a private paying patient and the rest were admitted under the mental health act (in which case the tax payer pays) she had the same type of bed, the same facilities and the same treatment as the others.
Try being a little supportive towards those with problems whether they have money or not, may you never know his kind of pressure.

Answer 3

The only people that seem to do it and advertise the fact are celebrities, and normally ones whose careers are in trouble. It's treated differently in America than the U.K., an example being if someone gets into trouble through drinking to much they might go into rehab in America rather than go to jail as they are considered to have a problem with drink,, some may well be alcoholics but most are not. If people in the U.K. did the same thing we would need massive rehab centres all over the country. There also seems to be this wierd thing in the U.S. that if you are a celeb and haven't had some sort of rehab or councelling then you are most likely considered not normal. Most people who desperately need help go into rehab as a last resort and the last thing they want is to advertise the fact. The problem with Robbie Williams is he desperately craves attention and to be idolised, which must be a bit of a bummer for him as his career has now slumped and the band he **** on is now more popular than him. What goes around comes around I guess

Answer 4

> Does this actually make rehab a joke for those people who actually need it around this country

Rehab doesn't work unless the person undergoing rehab REALLY wants it. Not all rehab methos work for all people. So I would say, no, it's not a joke. Did everything you've done in life turn out to be a sucess?

> And conversely, does that mean everybody who has actually been to rehab for legitimate reasons, is now worthy of celebrity status?

No. First of all, every half-baked actor/singer/whatever would simply use rehab to further their careers and that would turn rehab into a joke which would not be a good thing.
Second, I'm sure a lot, if not most, people would not want others to see that they were addicted to whatever.

Answer 5

t work unless the person undergoing rehab REALLY wants it. Not all rehab methos work for all people. So I would say, no, it's not a joke. Did everything you've done in life turn out to be a sucess?

> And conversely, does that mean everybody who has actually been to rehab for legitimate reasons, is now worthy of celebrity status?

No. First of all, every half-baked actor/singer/whatever would simply use rehab to further their careers and that would turn rehab into a joke which would not be a good thing.

Answer 6

Just because you're a celebrity makes you vulnerable to criticism and publicity. I don't think Robbie Williams etc wants or needs to be known for his substance abuse and trying to kick it. I think if anyone checks into a rehab clinic then at least they are aware they have a major problem, and millions of people that have been "cured" fall off the wagon, again and again.

Answer 7

I have to agree with Robbie William's ex-manager - he's a TOTAL drama queen. However, he's clearly screwed up and if the reports in the various papers about his daily drug intake are true, he really needs to be in rehab.

However, people like Jade are trivialising the true trauma people go through when they decide to take charge of their lives. Jade particularly is just a joke. I don't even care if she's a racist/bully/ignoramus, I only care that she fades back in to the obscurity from whence she came.

Answer 8

I wish people like myself who have suffered with clinical depression for years, try to cope with everyday living and would love to be in a position where I could make a difference. Come and live with with me Robbie and all you so badly dont do celebs. You havent got a clue none of you. You all make millions, have a bad time and go into beautiful rehab establishments, speak to pathetic magazines and make even more money. Come and live with me where it is a struggle. I would love to go the JUNGLE or LOVE ISLAND or SAFARI SCHOOL and make even more money than u know what to do with. Why dont these programmes take real life people and the the real world see what goes on in their brains instead of people who are looking for a second chance when they have messed up and looking and get more silly cash offers for doing nish. Come tele programmes get realistic

Answer 9

I cant believe how many celebraties check into rehab. They have the best life ever, loads of money, nice cars, gorgeous house's!! they wanna try living on the bread line, and have lots of bills to pay. Or having your partner working away 5 days a week just so you can keep a roof over your head. it would be interesting to see how they coped with a normal 9 to 5 job everyweek and not much to live off.

They have it made, they wanna realise there onto a good thing!!

Answer 10

Rehabilitation for alcohol, drugs or mental illness is a valid therapy, but it is only available on the NHS for those who are so seriously incapacitated that they cannot function on their own, and then, only if they live on their own, without a partner who can earn money and look after the afflicted person. I know this from experience. I get very angry when the likes of Williams books into therapy with a flourish of trumpets (which he could not orchestrate himself), whereas my wife, who has had Obsessive Complusive Disorder, and how had Generalised Anxiety Syndrome, can get no treatment other than palliative medication, cannot work, and cannot even get a subsistence allowance from the State, because I earn £12000 pa as a Security Guard and have a pension of £4000 pa from my previous employment. Her condition was not caused by substance abuse.

Answer 11

When people suffer from mental health issues and check themselves into rehab, its not really a laughing matter. You're neighbour or a loved one could do so but you wouldn't read about it in the papers, they'd simply go "on holiday". I personally feel sorry for anyone who lives their life in the public eye. I'm undecided if thats because the minute details of their life are laid bare or because they need the public adoration in the first place. Rehab isn't a joke for anyone, it's about confronting personal issues and if people go for legitimate reasons then they aren't always going to shout about it anyway. Would anyone you know enjoy being followed by the papparazzi 24/7? Thats enough to give people a reason to seek professional help in itself. It's easy for us to be judgemental but our lives take place in relative anonymity.