What do these bands have in common?
What do the following bands have in common: AC/DC, Association, Average White Band, Blind Melon, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Byrds, Carpenters, Crazy Horse, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, DOA, Family, Blind Faith, Grateful Dead, Hole, Led Zeppelin, Mother Love Bone, New York Dolls, Pretenders, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sex Pistols, Sha Na Na, Smashing Pumpkins, Styx, Sublime, Temptations, Thin Lizzy, Uriah Heep, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Janis Joplin?
The question would be much more difficult if it were posted on the Rolling Stone Magazine’s website…But, since you are reading this blog on Wonderland Center’s website you may be thinking something about drugs and alcohol.
All of these groups have had at least one member die behind addiction. Some bands like the Pretenders, New York Dolls and the Grateful Dead have lost two.
One musician, Karen Carpenter died of a heart attack after years of struggling with anorexia nervosa and bulimia. It is estimated that 5 million people suffer from eating disorders. After Carpenter’s death other celebrities went public about their eating disorders, among them Tracey Gold and Diana, Princess of Wales. The general public had little knowledge of anorexia nervosa and bulimia prior to Carpenter’s death, making the condition difficult to identify and treat.
Research has shown bulimic patients were found to have lower than normal serotonin levels. Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, are released as you eat.
Researchers have also found low cholecystokinin levels in bulimics. Cholecystokinin is a hormone that causes one to feel full and decreases eating. Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal cortex which promotes blood sugar and increases metabolism High levels of cortisol were found in people with eating disorders. This imbalance may be caused by a problem in or around the hypothalamus.
Similar factors that place individuals at risk for substance abuse are often found in individuals with eating disorders. With addiction and eating disorders there is a need to discharge affective experience through action rather than feeling or being able to talk about them. This is why our Clinical Director, Bernadine Fried, MFT encourages the use of a number of therapies that do not involve “talk”. It is very effective to use a combination of services including EMDR, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, Art Therapy, Yoga, meditation and exercise to compliment traditional “talk” therapy.
We cannot cure addiction, but we can help reduce its devastating impact on our lives by working together. One organization that has been helping musicians for a very long time is MusiCares. MusiCares is part of the Grammy Foundation and provides treatment scholarships and other services to musicians with addiction problems. MusiCares is found at http://www.grammy.com/MusiCares/. This holiday season please send a little something to MusiCares, a wonderful organization that has helped many, many people…