#Suffering

Have you been following the Charlie Sheen saga, at all?

Frankly, it’s very sad. I always enjoyed Sheen’s movie and TV performances, especially his comic abilities on Two-and-a-Half Men. But what has been happening these past few months – his steadily declining, drug- and/or alcohol- fogged personal and professional life – is painful to watch.

At first it was amusing, as it seemed that he was simply playing a role, or leveraging his return to the show. It also seemed as though his ego – fed by hangers-on and a culture of celebrity-worship – may have been growing beyond reason.

It wasn’t long before what was being described as “eccentric” behaviour started becoming more and more bizarre.

It would appear that Sheen’s problems are not simply alcohol and drug-related; he is exhibiting signs of mental illness.

In February, Bell Canada launched a five-year campaign to support a range of mental-health programs, and to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental illness. Olympian Clara Hughes and broadcaster Michael Landsberg were two celebrities recruited to speak of their own experiences with mental illness.

Let’s be honest, for many people Mental Illness is the elephant in the room. We likely all know someone who has experienced mental illness in some form: depression, a “nervous breakdown,” schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, etc.

Most often the person will try to hide their symptoms from others, perhaps due to shame, stigma and embarrassment.

Others may be unaware of the extent of their problems – many are not even considering mental illness as a possibility.

Still others, like Charlie Sheen, deny that they have a problem at all, insisting that they are fine, and everyone else has a problem.

It is a difficult issue to deal with on many counts.

If a family member or friend is experiencing signs of mental illness, people are often reluctant to broach the topic. They may not know how to help or what to do. They may be afraid of angering or embarrassing the person by even suggesting that the problem might be a mental illness.

As well, especially in its early stages, family and friends often do not understand the extent of the problem, and may adopt a dismissive attitude, telling them to “snap out of it,” or suggesting that “everyone feels bad once in a while, you’ll get over it.”

These are well-intentioned comments, perhaps, but rarely helpful.

Others witness what is happening to their friends or family and find or make excuses for their behaviour – exhaustion, stress, over-work, etc. – in an attempt to protect the person’s reputation, or keep them from being embarrassed.

For the person experiencing problems coping or interacting with others, they may not be sure what is happening, and are often reluctant to even consider mental illness as a possibility.

Some develop coping mechanisms that allow them to keep the symptoms in check, and are able to “pull it together” for a short time. Unfortunately, if caught unprepared, or if a particular situation goes on too long, they may begin to “lose control,” and be less able to hide their symptoms from others.

As this happens, excuses give way to explanations, and the spectre of mental illness is raised.

Those who do recognize – or accept – that they have a mental illness often struggle with treatment options. Many do not want to take medication, and prefer to attempt counselling. Others have varying success with a course of medication.

One of the problems with medication is that people begin to feel “better,” and then stop taking the medication. This often leads to a crash, where the symptoms not only recur, but may be worse than previously experienced.

In reality, there is little we can do to help others who are experiencing mental illness, except to be there for our friends and family, offering non-judgemental support, but not making excuses for their behaviour.

People experiencing mental illness need help – Professional help – but cannot be forced to seek or accept it. Interventions can work, in extreme cases, but ultimately the person must acknowledge their illness and accept the help that is being offered.

As for Charlie Sheen, he does not seem to be acknowledging any problems.

I heard an interview with his father, actor Martin Sheen, recently. He admits to being an alcoholic, and a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over twenty years. He knows not only what addiction looks like, but what it feels like.

The family has reached out to Charlie, but he denies that there is a problem.

He is convinced he is a “Warlock Vatican Assassin with Tiger Blood and Adonis DNA.”

The “friends” he has surrounded himself with have a vested interest in keeping Charlie happy; it does not seem as though they would confront him about his mental condition, no matter how bizarre his behaviour becomes.

It is really sad, but not all that unusual.

Charlie commands a great deal of media attention, as do most celebrities. It goes with the territory: there are few performers who shun attention.

Many people experiencing mental illness will shy away from any attention, in an attempt to hide their symptoms and/or to simply withdraw into what they may consider “safe” place.

Others seek attention, as part of their illness, affirming to themselves their belief that that “nothing is wrong.”

There are no easy answers, but we must begin to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

There may always be those who deny their problems and refuse help, but for those who may benefit from, – or indeed, crave – help, we need to be more open to and understanding of mental illness.

And, paying $100 to $150 to watch a train wreck is not helpful.


But… that’s just my opinion.