The Road of Recovery for an Advocate

I think scars are like battle wounds- beautiful in a way. They show what you’ve been through and how strong you are for coming out of it ~ Demi Lovato

It has been a bumpy road for Demi Lovato. Recently she encountered an overdose of heroine which had her placed in rehab. As she began a recovery from her drug abuse, Demi has many roads to take with getting better. Her drug usage is only a branch of the truth of her issue: having Bipolar Disorder. Along with substance abuse, Demi has a history of being bulimic and cutting herself which are just a few characteristics of Bipolar. Many have utilized the term Bipolar but really do not know what it means. Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows( depression). www.mayoclinic.org.

Many have criticized Demi due to her recent drug overdose, but have not looked at the whole picture of her mental illness. Drug abuse, eating disorder, and self- harm are just a few antics that those dealing with Bipolar may encounter to suppress whatever pains they are dealing with and whatever natural highs they are trying to reach. Demi has been very open and honest about her battles that she constantly fight. Just like any fighter, you win some and you lose some. But just because you lose does not mean that you are not fighter. It means that you are going through your trials and tribulations to become the best at what you do. Demi acknowledges that this is battle that she was losing and that she has to come up with a better game plan to come back on top. The game plan needs to include consistent access for her to get the help she needs for her mental health. Consistent visits with her psychiatrist, consistent sessions with her mental health therapist, consistent focus on herself; these are the components that Demi needs to add to her everyday life to maintain a healthy life. Demi will have to do an ultimate clean sweep in her life in order to stay on the right track. Sometimes the company that you keep can big your biggest downfall during your sobriety and your path to gain control of your mental health. This is not to say that she was influenced by circle, but to say that if people are going to be in her circle, they need to be educated about her mental illness and accept that they have to be her accountability partners.

Demi continues to be an advocate for mental health. She is revealing that this is a real battle and that it is not an easy fight. We all have a Demi Lovato in our lives and it is important that we let them know that they are not alone with their battle.

Photo credits:

The Hollywood Unlocked

http://www.ewn.co.za

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The Road of Recovery for an Advocate

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