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I tried to avoid the news coverage on Charlie Sheen, but it has been impossible to miss. Through the disjointed outbursts and bizarre rants, there is one interview that touched me. His father, actor Martin Sheen, broke his silence to discuss his son’s illness and wondered out loud whether the response would be the same if that illness were cancer.
I think we all know the answer to Martin’s question. My point is not to excuse Charlie Sheen’s outrageous behavior. But, as his father points out, substance and alcohol abuse are disorders, deserving of compassion and care. For families and friends, it is a truly heartbreaking experience.
As with other celebrity substance abuse episodes, we don’t talk about the problem from a medical vantage point. Instead, we get pulled into a circus-like spectacle fed by media coverage of the celebrity’s contemptible statements and strange behavior. We trade understanding for scorn, disgust, or a few laughs.
When addiction becomes a national joke, we lose hard won ground in the fight against stigma. When the coverage of Charlie Sheen takes on the tenor and tone of a comedy show, it becomes much harder for average citizens to talk openly about substance abuse disorder and other mental illnesses. Studies show that stigma is the greatest barrier to seeking treatment for mental and addictive disorders. No one wants to be the butt of a joke.
If we allow the mockery of these disorders to go unchallenged, we trivialize the struggle of millions of people – including friends, family members and colleagues who have faced addiction. It’s time for all of us – the media, the readers and viewers who watch rapt as celebrities unravel, to think about the millions of others who struggle with these problems in silence. It’s time for us to hear Martin Sheen’s plea, and take mental health problems seriously.
I totally agree that stigma takes a strong hit when we openly mock celebrities whose illness causes them to act out. And Martin is right, we would not be having the same reaction if Charlie had cancer. It is a sad state of affairs that the press keeps on reporting this as a joke the way they have been instead of with the seriousness of his addictive illnesses.
I truly doubt that Mr. Sheen’s behavior would be viewed in the same light if he were not a celebrity. Unfortunately, because he is, his behavior is not viewed either by the media or by the public as the illness it is, but rather as an extension of his character on television.
I take a different view of the media coverage and of public reaction to celebrity substance abuse. It seems to me that the mockery is for the most part of bad behavior, regardless of etiology, not of the disorder driving it. When celebrities get clean the media and public often become cheerleaders for their sobriety.
The average American in the coveted demographic (18-35) loves a good train wreck and is grateful for an opportunity to express a self-absorbed and silent “There, but for the grace of God, go I”. The media will produce anything that sells to that same demographic. Of course, part of Charlie’s illness is “Look at me!”, and the medial moguls lick their chops: Charlie puts it on the internet live, and it costs the producers nothing to “play me now” or “play me later.” Oh, and the 11-17 group sees drug-addled narcissism as funny and hip. It’s tough to prevent certain types of mental illness when they look fairly innocuous on the screen.
Social norms of stigma for people who glorify in (insulting people publicly for suggesting treatment) and brag about (making a web show to publicize his rants) their substance abuse have developed for functional reasons. What should we replace them with?
Sheen has the podium of celebrity. He has created a web show. He confronts the media at any opportunity. Ignoring his unchecked substance abuse would be condoning it in this case. I say “substance abuse” not addiction because the two are different. One is a behavior; the other is a disease. Sheen probably has both, but it’s the former people are ridiculing, not the latter.
The media would definitely ridicule a lung cancer victim who went on television bragging about his chain smoking and publicly insulting anyone who brought up seeing an oncologist.
The reaction to Sheen’s rants are conditioned by years of the same viewers watching his show that made drug abuse and irresponsible behavior something cute and comical with no consequences. Sheen’s Harper character was playing himself without the authentic consequences of his addictive behaviors being addressed. At some point the audience will grasp the seriousness of Sheen’s illness as the actor continues to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, many children have watched Two and a Half Men and have certainly been influenced by its irresponsible message of fun and frivolity with substance abuse and promiscuity-I know because all of my sixthg graders “love the show”.
Let’s get real. The media and Americans love to watch train wrecks. Charlie Sheen doesn’t have cancer. The media most certainly did publish photos of Patrick Swayze and others in their final days. Charlie Sheen may have been mentally ill for years–what has anyone in his circle done about it? What did anyone in Michael Jackson’s circle do about it? Life is cruel. Buck up, do something for those you love and stop trying to make others feel like crap for being bystanders behind the big screen.
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As a recovering alcoholic and mother of two adult kids who have come through their own mental and addiction trials I have only this to say,he doesn’t even know he’s ill. It is so evident and he is being enabled. What a sorry message this is when it could be turned around and made so positive if the right measures were taken. He will implode. either taking his own life (most likely by accident) or do something extremely serious to another. Such a shame and we help by rubbernecking, mocking and thoroughly enjoying his deline…talk about mass schadenfreude!!!!!!!!!!!!! It needs to be addressed, he needs to be helped, we need to pay attention!!!!
well said
Everyone seems focussed on his addiction as a psychiatric disorder but isn’t it simply a symptom? And I may get some heat for saying this but what does Martin Sheen know? Sure, Charlie is his son and he no doubt loves him but whatever is going on with Charlie internally or underneath the addiction is the outcome of growing up with Martin Sheen as his dad.
What a wonderful, intelligent dialogue! Thanks to everyone.
If charlie Sheen was combative and unable to care for himself due to Diabetic Keto-acidosis he would have been hospitalized and treated. He is clearly hypomanic (a brain disorder with a mortality rate higher than diabetes). The stigma keeps us from treating his illness. Are we going to wait until he crashes and suicides, or seizes from sleep deprivation?
If he dies his lawyers should be sued for malpractice!
Only Charlie can fix Charlie, unfortunately. He will get right, be institutionalized, or he will die[locked up, covered up, or sobered up]. The rest of us will order popcorn or move on. We are either curious or we are not. He will be toast in due time. He has lost his position, his children have been taken away, his family is alienated, any ‘friends’ are on the payroll, now his pubic is shredding – a predictable pattern. Children laugh adults yawn. There will be a bottom to this and it is apt to be sooner rather than later. We will be patient – he is doing all the dancing right now. His moves are not pretty, eh.
The article and the comments above add up to a provocative, insightful and valuable dialogue. I especially agree with the comment by JL that if Charlie were “a lung cancer victim who went on t.v. bragging about his chain smoking and insulting anyone who brought up seeing an oncologist,” the media would also ridicule him. I also agree with Lynn that “the mockery…is for the bad behavior…not the disorder drving it.” I can only hope that anyone–especially children and teens–who laughs at Charlie’s displays of manic bravado is doing so out of nervouness and uneasiness at seeing an adult in the ugly throes of end-stage addiction, rather than out of humorous enjoyment. A wealthy and (previously) handsome and powerful womanizer decompensating before our very eyes is a cautionary tale to children and adults alike: money truly CAN’T buy happiness or immunity from the laws of nature. Abuse your body and your brain long and hard enough, they will betray you far sooner than they should. Sheen offers clear proof that addiction is no respecter of social or economic status. As for the comments that someone (family, friends, lawyers, etc.) should “do something” to help Sheen…unless he can be committed to an institution against his will, there is very little than anyone can do for him without his voluntary agreement. It’s for that very reason that millions of people attend the 12-Step program of Al-Anon. May God help you, Charlie, and give peace and comfort to your family as well.
@mya: “Buck up, do something for those you love and stop trying to make others feel like crap for being bystanders behind the big screen”
I think the point is that everyone should care, if not love, each other enough to not be casual bystanders to destruction.
I am a Counsellor/Psychotherapist specialising in eating disorders. Similar to alcohol and substance abuse disorders, my clients are terrified of discussing their very real and debilitating disorders with others, as they believe no-one will really understand. Eating Disorders are not about food or weight, they are about feelings and self-worth. Drug and alcohol addiction are not about substances, they are about feelings and self-worth. I feel huge empathy with Charlie Sheen at this time, he is in the grip of something bigger than himself, which I hope and pray he can overcome with the love and support of his family, the right professional team if and when he actively seeks help, and the public who know and understand what he is going through.