Amy Winehouse Died Of Bulimia, Not Drug Abuse

Newsflash: Amy Winehouse’s brother says that bulimia killed Amy, not drugs.

Alex Winehouse recognizes that his sister was on a path to death, but that it was ultimately years of her eating disorder behaviors that rendered her body too weak to continue functioning.

Bulimia symptoms and behaviors started in Amy’s teen years and did not subside, probably because she was never treated for the illness. She was also never treated well for substance abuse. 

Co-occuring disorders

With this news from Alex, we now know that Amy Winehouse could have been dually-diagnosed. In other words, Amy had co-occurring disorders: an addiction and an eating disorder.

When left untreated, just one mental illness or disorder is detrimental to the life of the sufferer. When two illnesses are happening at the same time, it is certainly harder to diagnose and treat. If you are abusing a drug that alters your brain chemistry, and therefore how you view the world, and subsequently act, it is really hard to tell if symptoms of a mental illness are from the drug use, or if they are a separate issue.

There are numerous treatment centers that treat co-occurring disorders during the same rehab stint. For someone like Amy, a focus on bulimia and on alcohol and drug abuse could have given her the opportunity to get change. People who have felt uncomfortable in their own lives, and in their own bodies, often turn to alcohol, cocaine, prescription pills, heroin, or whatever else to feel differently or to escape from your discomfort. When the drug use stops, and you are left with a life on pause, you want to immediately go back to the feeling the drug gave you.

Unenjoyable reality

Reality for these people is not enjoyable without substances. Cocaine, for example, can seem to help someone who has an eating disorder. In Amy’s case, the appetite suppressing power of cocaine may have been just what she was looking for: a way to eat less and maintain a smaller body weight.

The cocaine is masking the eating disorder symptoms, but below the surface, and when the person is not using, the symptoms come right back, sometimes even more intensely.

Amy Winehouse could have spent some time in rehab and healed the issues that lead to bulimia and substance abuse. She could have gotten better. Maybe her dad should have stepped in with more force to get his daughter the help she desperately needed.

Club 27

People loved her music. She definitely made her mark on the industry, and could have realized a sustainable creative career, but instead she joins the 27 Club (famous people who have died at age 27) whether it’s because of bulimia or substance abuse.

Sadly we will never know because she said no, no, no to rehab. It doesn’t make a difference what actually took her life because a young, talented woman is gone.

With dual diagnosis treatment, Amy could still be singing but with how she said yes, yes, yes to rehab and what adventures she can now experience without drugs and alcohol.

Kate Green is a quality improvement manager at Balboa Horizons Treatment Services that helps those who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.

Image Credit: 1, 2.

Jenna Jameson Accuses Tito Ortiz Of Drug Abuse On Twitter

Twitter brings out the nasty in some people. It gives the angry and the hurt a place to air out their dirty laundry.

We’ve seen Amanda Bynes Tweet just about everything. We learn a lot about what celebrities (and everyday folk) are doing and thinking right in the heat of the moment.

Instead of love for one another, people are using Twitter, and of course other forms of mass media, to bash a person they once loved. Tweeting is a new way to get back at someone when a breakup gets ugly.

Using Twitter to vent

Jenna Jameson has made herself into an example of that. She has Tweeted all about her ex-husband’s alleged drug use while they were married, and while he was an active MMA fighter.

Jenna claims that Tito Ortiz was a heavy drug user for years. She put up pictures of needles and prescription drug bottles, suggesting that they belong to her ex-husband. She also claims that she watched Ortiz fake the MMA required drug tests.

The ones that lose the most

Instead of a loving wife who supports her husband through an incredibly difficult opiate withdrawal timeline, the couple gets divorced, they create a nasty custody battle, and Jenna uses Twitter to express her sadness and anger. Who really loses? Their 4-year-old twin boys.

Twitter: a place to air your dirty laundry

We never know what’s really going on in the lives of celebrities, especially those who are addicted to any substances, but if you put your grievances on Twitter, or other social media sites, you are actively sharing your private life with the public.

It can be assumed that Tito Ortiz does not want that stuff up on Twitter, out for anyone and everyone to read. The person you trusted the most at one point in time, is now using everything against you.

If Tito wanted to get clean, and was willing to endure the opiate withdrawal timeline that’s necessary when you stop taking prescription painkillers, it’s sad to think that a wife would not stand by her husband through the process.

Surely there is more than meets the eye here, but when part of the story is aired, and that’s all we get, we speculate, don’t we?

Better communication methods

The real issue is, how can we help people communicate in healthier ways to possibly save a marriage? Is it really necessary to use social media to expose your feelings and life to complete strangers, or is it possible for two people to have a real conversation with one another to deal with their problems face to face? Are two people with prior (or current) addiction issues doomed from the start? Did Jenna and Tito have any chance at a loving marriage, or could we have predicted drug use, violence, and a bitter split? In the end, who is the real winner or loser in this battle?

Either way, it’s sad, but tempting, to we can keep up on it through Twitter.

Kate Green is a quality improvement manager at Balboa Horizons Treatment Services, who strives to help others overcome struggle with issues of alcohol and drug addiction learn more about her work at http://www.balboahorizons.com.

Image Credit: 1, 2.

Women's Inpatient Rehabilitation For Lindsey Lohan

Lindsay Lohan is back in rehab after facing court-mandated treatment instead of jail time.

What do women need in treatment to be successful? Are gender-specific treatment programs necessary for women to get sober and sustain a life of recovery?

Lindsay has been to rehab several times, so what can be different this time? Would she benefit from a women’s inpatient substance abuse program rather than a coed group?

Women Have Their Own Set Of Challenges

Women who have been abusing alcohol, prescription pills, or any illegal drugs are reacting to something emotionally difficult. Getting to the bottom of that void that’s seeking to be filled is important for her to ever be clean for long periods of time. Often times elminating the distractions associated with the opposite sex is beneficial.

Was this woman a victim of violence or another form of trauma? Is there unresolved emotional pain that’s making her want to numb out, escape, or kill pain?

What Women Need

Women in rehab need comfort, security, a good support system, and other good women around. When a women's inpatient substance abuse program provides those key elements, clients can open up to one another and really share the truth about their lives.

Let’s pretend for a minute that we know Lindsay Lohan. Since she is a public figure, we have more information than we would a stranger walking down the street. We know that the relationship with her dad is volatile, but we don’t really know why. The reasoning behind the distance is something personal to Lindsay that may feel like an empty space that needs to be filled with something else.

When she doesn’t know how to handle the painful emotions and real-time situations, Lindsay seems to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Self medication is a common reason people begin abusing substances in the first place and often what triggers a relapse.

The Root Of Addiction

In a women’s inpatient substance abuse program, where the clients live on-site, Lindsay Lohan’s inner turmoil could be revealed, added as a component of her treatment plan, and then addressed during individual therapy and in a peer process group. With the help of and support from other women, Lindsay could get to the root of her addiction and her harmful behaviors so that this stint in rehab could potentially be her last.

For any woman seeking treatment for addiction, a women’s inpatient substance abuse program is the way to go. You can participate in activities like yoga, meditation, intention-setting, art therapy, 12-Step Meetings, nutrition counseling, life skills workshops, and various forms of therapy.

Getting Healthy

What could be better while getting healthy and regaining your life? Regardless of who you are or what you do for a living, there is no reason to let drugs and alcohol limit you potential enjoyment in life.

Let’s hope Lindsay’s time in rehab allows her to see the life she could be living without drugs, alcohol, continuously being involved with the legal system, and self-harming behaviors that surround her current lifestyle. Best of luck LiLo!

Kate Green is a quality improvement manager at Balboa Horizons Treatment Services, her passion is to help others overcome struggle with issues of alcohol and drug addiction learn more at http://www.balboahorizons.com.

Image Credit: 1.

Eminem Opens Up

Remember when we found out that Eminem was fully addicted to prescription pills? Despite his self-disclosure of drug and alcohol abuse in song after song (examples: Purple Pills and Drug Ballad), did we really understand that he was addicted?

He was reaching a point of success in the music industry, a rags to riches kind of story, and seemed to be working hard to keep that earned status.

The Documentary

In a new documentary, though, Eminem (Marshall Mathers) is letting it be known that his prescription drug addiction nearly killed him. How to Make Money Selling Drugs gives the audience an inside look at just how bad addiction got for Eminem. In his words, “Had I got to the hospital about two hours later, I would have died. My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything. They were gonna have to put me on dialysis. They didn't think I was gonna make it. My bottom was gonna be death."

In the world of addiction treatment, the concept of “rock bottom” is prevalent. Not all addicts need to hit a bottom like Marshall did, but he is making the point that for him, death was the only thing that was going to stop him from popping those pills.

As his celebrity status grew, Marshall would get rid of anyone who tried telling him he had a drug problem. He was Eminem. He could send people away if he wanted to. He did not have to listen to that.  He recalls thinking that these people were ridiculous. That guy is saying I’m a drug addict? That I have a problem? I don’t. I’m not shooting heroin or smoking crack. Get that guy outta here!

During one episode of heavy use, Marshall was rushed to the hospital. After nearly dying, Eminem knew he needed rehab. A men’s addiction treatment program was the next step in his life.

Detox

Detoxing was difficult, as it is when anyone stops taking opiates like Vicodin, which was one of his drug’s of choice. He talks about being awake for basically three weeks straight as his body and brain adjusted to pre-drug functioning.

He was also taking Xanax and Valium, among other drugs. The combinations that Marshall’s body experienced makes it hard to find a good place of balance again. Feeling no pain during active use, and then getting clean all at once, makes any pain now feel unbearable. Emotions come rushing to the surface while your body is beyond uncomfortable.

The Process Of Healing

Once you make it past detox though, you can begin to heal.  Men’s addiction treatment was not easy for Eminem, but he did make it through. He is sober today, as far as we know, and he wants addicts and alcoholics who are going to rehab to know that it does get easier.

The documentary, in theaters, will show the truth about drug addiction through Eminem’s experiences. Will it show the full picture? From that first Vicodin, that numbed everything in all the right ways, to near-death with the reality of major internal damage, to men’s addiction treatment?

Hopefully the film can inspire others to seek treatment too.

Kate Green is passionate about covering the world of addiction reocver from her time spent working with Balboa Horizons Treatment Services http://www.balboahorizons.com/.

Image Credit: 1, 2, 3.

7 Famous Dogs Throughout History

When you think of those who’ve earned fame, you tend to think of those humans who have been dubbed as famous. But fame doesn’t only include those people who have earned some type of celebrity. There are also plenty of animals that have become famous over the years, and many of them included dogs. Check out the following list of seven famous dogs throughout history.

1. Togo and Balto

The use of dogsleds is popular in Alaska, and Balto and Togo are two sled dogs that earned great fame. Diphtheria had entered Nome, Alaska, and there wasn’t enough medicine on hand for the local doctor to treat everyone. Since the last ship of the season had just left, the Board of Health had to send medicine by dog sled. Togo and Balto made it over 674 miles in just five days, and to date, the record has not been broken.

2. Lady

The sinking of the Titanic plays an epic role in history, and many people discuss those who survived as well as those who lost their lives. But along with human survivors, there were also a few canine survivors, and Lady, a Pomeranian, was one of them. Owner Margaret Hays covered Lady in a blanket, and since crewmembers assumed it was a baby, they allowed Margaret to bring it on board a lifeboat. Lady was one of four total dogs that survived the sinking of the Titanic.

3. Bobbie

Bobbie and his family traveled from Oregon to Indiana on vacation. While in Indiana, Bobbie found himself away from his family, and despite their best efforts, they could not find Bobbie before they left. Six months later, Bobbie showed up on the doorstep of his family’s home—more than 2,500 miles away. He walked the whole thing and earned plenty of fame from his journey.

4. Bo Obama

The White House is not complete without the companionship of a pup. When the First Family announced that they were shopping for a dog to add to their family, the media buzzed about what type of dog they would choose. Ultimately, the Obama’s chose a Portuguese Water Dog named Bo, whose hypoallergenic fur was best for Malia’s allergies.

5. Argos

If you want to discuss famous dogs from historic times, then Argos is probably the most popular. Argos was the dog of Odysseus, and the mention of Argos can be found in plenty of Greek literature and mythology.

6. Laika

Laika earned fame for being the very first dog in space. On November 3, 1957, Laika was placed on board Russian satellite Sputnik 2. Unfortunately, Laika died shortly after making it into space, but her journey proved that a living thing could survive a launch into orbit.

7. Faith

Stories about dog’s who overcome challenges always earn mass media attention, and Faith is one of those dogs. Faith was born with two fully functioning hind legs and only one front leg, which was deformed. The front leg was amputated when Faith was seven months old, and many veterinarians told Jude Stringfellow, Faith’s owner, to euthanize her. Even Faith’s own mother tried to suffocate the puppy. Instead, Jude taught Faith to walk solely on her hind legs, making her truly unique and famous.

 

Rachel Doyle is a blogger and animal lover with DogTrainingCollars.com who often writes about everything from interesting pet facts to reviews on excellent obedience training equipment for your dogs.

Image Credit: 1, 2, 3.

3 Of The Most Surprising Celebrity Medical Success Stories

Celebrities are the pearls of most people's eyes. They lead lives that most can dream of in terms of luxury, elegance, and overall pleasure. However, just like anyone else, celebrities have to encounter hardships at a personal level. Money can never buy immortality and health; this is a reality of life that everyone has to accept. Medical hardships can be tougher on celebrities than the average Joe due to the media circus that is always around. No one wishes to be swamped by cameras as they are battling to survive. This piece will focus on celebrity medical success stories and what these individuals are doing to assist others with similar problems.

Lou Ferrigno

Better known as the Hulk from television show The Incredible Hulk, Ferrigno gained a lot of publicity for his personal struggles with his medical condition. Ferrigno overcame his battles to go on to act, play professional football, and body build. His story is truly remarkable and inspiring for individuals suffering from hearing loss (Better Hearing Institute). At the age of 21, Ferrigno lost 65 percent of his hearing and had to start wearing hearing aids. The battle was tough, but he never gave up and continued to pursue his dreams of bodybuilding and acting. Not only did Ferrigno have to overcome his hearing loss, he had to work on his speech deficiencies in order to act and function on a daily basis. He continued to persevere and is now able to speak fluently and articulate himself better than most people.

What does Ferrigno do to inspire others? He has said his only goal was to become famous enough to tell his story. He has gone on to become a celebrity in the sporting and acting world and continues to progress to new heights with his charitable causes. Ferrigno has been a supporter of the Better Hearing Institute for over 25 years.

Scott Hamilton

This figure skating phenom was one of the finest in his field during the 80s. He had a huge fan following and continued to progress to new heights each year. Further into his career, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had to halt his career (People). He eventually won his battle against testicular cancer and was able to return to doing what he loved most, figure skating. He has gone on to publicize and share the importance of the fight against testicular cancer around the world.

Scott Hamilton has even gone on to open the Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative. This is his way of giving back to the world and using his celebrity power to work toward a brighter future. He is actively seen promoting his charity.

Olivia Newton-John

Singing had been Newton-John's passion from the early years of her childhood. She could never have imagined going from stardom to a battle against breast cancer (Olivia Appeal). Yet this was exactly what happened. But she persevered through the battle and came out on top. Olivia Newton-John produced two benefit albums for the sole purpose of giving back to cancer charities.

To learn more about celebrities and medical success stories, guest writer Laura Reddick recently visited www.pbtalent.com/medical-speakers

Image Credit: 1, 2, 3.

4 Celebrities Who Got Hair Replacement Done

Everyone’s human even the celebrities that are so talked about in the news. While many people revere them and remain star struck, it’s subtle reminders like loss of hair, growing old and other things the help to remind us that in the end celebs are only human and they have problems too.

Moreover, balding is something which afflicts everyone and you’ll find that while considered to be epitome of perfection, there are many celebrities that have reverted to hair replacement surgeries to combat male pattern baldness at young or old age.

While many have come clean about their hair replacement surgeries, others have kept mum about it. Nonetheless, the proof is in the pudding and these following celebrities have undeniably had hair replacement surgeries:

Nicholas Cage

Among one of the most conspicuous hair transplant cases in Hollywood, Nicholas Cage opted to remain quiet regarding his suddenly full and deliciously brunette hair. However, even though he’s one of the most profiled stars of Hollywood since the 1980’s; his hair loss had becoming surprisingly evident as the years rolled by. However, it was evident that his male pattern baldness has definitely become very active over the past few years and eventually prompted the star to resort to hair replacement surgeries.

 John Travolta

Another one of the golden oldies, John Travolta was the biggest Hollywood heartthrob after Grease.  Undeniably good looking in his youth, John Travolta seems to have aged increasingly well. To be honest he doesn’t look too bad nowadays either. He’s aging a little too well, don’t you think? That’s right.  John Travolta took a page out of his fellow celebrities’ books and got some hair replacement surgeries done. Although in his 50’s now John Travolta sports a lush head of hair which has raised many eyebrows at him. While gorgeous with a full head of hair, he’s still a looker even when without hair and the ladies still loved him when he’s had to go bald for some roles for his movies.

Mel Gibson

Considered to be the sexiest man alive in 1985, Mel Gibson was making ladies swoon with this thick head of hair and striking blue eyes. Nonetheless, this ruggedly good looking guy started to suffer from a receding hairline fairly early in his career. While not going public about it, there is rumor that the star got some hair replacement surgeries in 2006. Although his looks have mellowed over the years, there are still times when seeing him with a full head of hair you can see the sexiest man alive of 1985 again.

Al Pacino

It’s been 35 years since Al Pacino played the role of wild and young Micheal Corleone in the classic movie The God Father. Since then Al Pacino has had a heavy and illustrious career. Therefore it became noticeably perceptible how his hair weathered the years with him. Sometimes thick, sometimes thin, Al Pacino joins the pack of Hollywood stars that’ve gotten hair replacement surgeries yet chooses to refrain from making any comments about it.

Nonetheless, there are many other celebrities in Hollywood many world soccer stars like Wayne Rooney had a succesfull Hair Transplant surgery. who’ve gotten hair replacement surgeries such as Ben Affleck, Brendan Fraser, Johnny Depp, Robin Williams and many others as well.

Featured images:

•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: 1

Mark is a hair loss consultant providing services at HDC Hair trichology centre which you can follow on Google plus

Rolf Harris - Great Artist Or Lucky Amateur?

Rolf Harris is one of the world’s best known contemporary artists and his original works regularly fetch six figure sums. His painting is undeniably popular but is it actually worthy and does it really matter if it is? Rolf Harris’s work may be loved by the masses but art critics generally loathe it and have showered the artist with a barrage of unfortunate comments over the years with one branding him “a fairground painter at most”.

The Value of Success

I have no idea how Harris rates his own work and I am sure he would love to receive more critical acclaim but he is certainly getting the last laugh with the amount of money he has made. History is littered with great masters who have died poor men and you have to ask what is better for the individual, success or technical brilliance?

The Merit of Popularity

I have said it before and I will say it again. There is surely something affirming about popularity. 
Popularity is a merit it its own right and it is pure snobbishness to dismiss art as unsound when it so sought after. Unfortunately aficionados of the arts always deride anything which is popular and I feel this is probably at least in part to maintain their position of superiority which would be somewhat undermined by agreeing with the great unwashed.

Enjoyment

Whatever the truth of the matter Rolf Harris’s work is most certainly popular. Doubtless this is in large part due to his high profile as an entertainer but give the public some credit. Those with money might buy his original work as an investment regardless of what they thought of the quality but people would not generally buy his prints unless they actually liked them whoever the artist was. I hope that settles the argument. Rolf Harris may not be the most technically gifted or inspired artist that ever lived but he paints images that people enjoy and that is surely just as important. Even more crucially he has inspired an interest in art and that is where I believe his greatest talent lies.

Inspiration

Art has always been a signature element of Harris’s live performances as an entertainer. He may not possess artistic brilliance but he does have a unique talent for engaging an audience with art. His act usually involves painting a picture quickly and in such a way that the subject of the work is not obvious until the painting nears completion. In this way he has created an interest in art amongst many people who may never have come to the subject at all. He can inspire interest and creativity in others and that is a rare talent which should be celebrated.

Rolf Harris has received the kind of criticism you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. The critic’s appear to feel that his work is so poor that it makes jack Vettriano look like Michelangelo but I am not so sure. At the end of the day the work of Rolf Harris is much loved and he certainly has the ability to inspire an appreciation of art generally. I have to conclude that whilst he is no Van Gogh he is not a lucky amateur either but rather an inspired teacher and that should be admired if nothing else.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Sally Stacey is a professional writer who also owns a bridal shop and was on the board of a London based distribution company for 16 years. A frequent traveller for both leisure and business, Sally is always looking for a new adventure to write about

DJ Khaled Proposes To Nicki Minaj With A Stunning 10 Carat Diamond Ring

It has been said that a girl never forgets the way that she's proposed to, and this will definitely be the case for Nicki Minaj, who was recently offered a proposal of marriage by DJ Khaled, an offer that included an amazing 10 carat diamond ring!

In fact, Khaled recently posted a video on MTV, stating to his family, and the rest of the world that he wants Minaj in his life, while turning a rather large ring box around to reveal the absolutely stunning piece of jewelry. Some people claim that it was a stunt, but he seemed pretty serious to me. The only downside to his proposa was doing it on TV instead of in person like everyone else.

A Shining Proposal with a Diamond Can Make All the Difference in the World

Today, there are many ways to propose marriage to one's intended lifetime partner. Over time, there have been highway billboards, airplane skywriters, and of course, the ever famous proposal on the jumbo screen at half-time of a sporting event, but the truth is that a proposal that includes a shiny diamond ring can be the most heartfelt of them all.

Some believe that the tradition of offering an engagement ring with a diamond came about as early as the year 1477, when Archduke Maximillan of Austria offered his intended wife to be, Mary of Burgundy, a diamond in his proposal of marriage.

Ever since that time, the gifting of a diamond engagement ring became a widespread tradition among the wealthy and upper class. This was the case until the late 1800s, when diamond mines were discovered in the South African regions, which made the availability, and the affordability, of diamonds more prevalent. Today, proposing with a diamond ring is meant to symbolize eternal love - as the saying goes, "diamonds are forever."

Diamonds Truly Are a Girl's, and an Investor's, Best Friend

Although diamonds have been "girls' best friends" for many years, they have also become loved by investors. Throughout the years, these gems have been highly valued - outperforming equities over the past several decades.

So what's the appeal? For one, diamonds can provide a nice hedge against inflation, as well as ownership of a highly valued commodity that is not tied to the volatility and fluctuation of the equity or bond markets. Recently, diamonds have even "dethroned" gold, as investors seek alternative investments to replace their declining-in-value gold and silver assets.

 

Are Khaled and Minaj Really a Match Made in Heaven?

While it is now rumored that Khaled's proposal may have only been a stunt, used for the sole purpose of promoting his new single titled, "I Wanna Be With You" the couple appears to be pretty cozy as they appear together on the related video.

And, even though DJ Khaled and Nicki Minaj have never actually dated, given the effort that Khaled went to, along with the absolute beauty of the diamond engagement ring, Minaj may actually have a hard time turning down the offer. After all, with a 10 carat diamond in the mix, how could she possibly say anything but "Yes!"

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source 
•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Dina Silverberg is the creative director of DiamondEnvy.com.  She holds a Graduate Diamonds degree from the GIA and a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing from CUNY-Hunter.