It’s been rumoured singer George Michael has spent the last two months being treated for a dual diagnosis problem: emotional anxiety and other issues in a residential rehab facility. He is said to have admitted himself to the rehab centre in Australia after failing to get to grips with his issues after thinking that he would ”be ok” if he stuck to performing and singing. Throwing himself into his work right for a short while but without addressing the underlying reasons behind its problems he found that this was ineffective.
The ex-Wham singer who give up cannabis in 2012 after a near fatal bout of pneumonia has had his fair share of problems he fell and trouble with the law several times whilst driving under the influence of cannabis and at one point seemed to be risking it all. He credits his partner with helping him to stay on the straight and narrow. Time spent in a rehab facility can be useful for a wide range of issues. Of course, the first that spring to mind are addiction problems such as alcohol or drugs, but residential rehab centres can be very effective in treating depression and other problems.
Giving up drugs or alcohol is difficult. Fact. Addiction is a hard thing to beat. If it was easy, then it wouldn’t be a problem. But some people, it’s just too much. Of course powerlessness is a big part of addiction. Being powerless over your urges to partake in destructive behaviours are habits is what addiction is all about. Addiction is not a weakness of character or a moral failing, it is a serious illness and disease which is progressive in its nature. By learning to change and modify behaviours, addressing the root of the problems and working through them, and addict can go on to live a healthier addiction free lifestyle.
Without addressing the problems some people may manage to give up their addiction and never look back. This, however, is pretty rare, as without addressing the reasons behind the addiction, someone who has abused any substance will be more prone to relapse, or replace their chosen substance with something else. The associated psychological and behavioural problems may still be present, and left untreated, they can still bear many of the traits of an addict, but without actually consuming. This is called “Dry Drunk Syndrome.” Originally coined to describe the phenomenon in association with alcoholics, it has come to describe a wider range of behaviours.