CELEBRITY WORSHIP: ADOLESCENTS NEW ADDICTION

A frantic mother of a 15 year old daughter of a local suburban neighborhood tells her therapist that her daughter has quit the cheerleading squad, no longer dreams of college and becoming a lawyer, and her childhood friends have been replaced with friends she has never met. Her daughter has been isolating, reading all the latest celebrity magazines, and becoming more rebellious at home. Is this the sign of her daughter in the midst of addiction? Of course, when you think of addiction, you think of drugs or alcohol. Perhaps it is another addiction called "celebrity worship." Or maybe both.

You have to wonder when musician Amy Whitehouse is singing "No, No, No" refusing to go to rehab to deal with a drug addiction. What about the fact she is the Queen of the Grammys winning multiple Grammys this year? What does that tell our teenagers? It sends out the message that it is appealing to be in the throes of a drug addiction and in turn, not getting help for it. Most recently the news depicted her of having the first stages of emphysema from smoking crack cocaine. Whether or not that is true, is not the issue. The issue is she needs help.

Teens are now not only emulating the clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics celebrities use but now see addiction as glamorous. This is not necessarily anything new in popular culture. Many musicians and actors have died tragic deaths from addiction and many more will die in the continuing drug epidemic. Singer Janis Joplin glamorized drugs in the 1960's dying at 27 of a drug overdose. And what about Timothy Leary and his famous quote, "Turn on, Tune In, Drop out." And what about Anna Nicole Smith who died last year of an overdose. The media spent excess air time depicting the disturbing life she led.

Adolescents is ordinarily a time of soul searching and finding an identity. This is a vulnerable time for most teenagers. However, today identity formation has crossed the line. Teens are even copying adults undergoing surgery to have lips like Angeline Jolie all the way to carving a dimple in their chin to look like John Travolta. In fact, there was a reality show that depicts people going through surgery to make these changes called, "I want a famous face." Has the media gone too far?

Studies show that celebrity worship at higher levels becomes as addictive as drugs and alcohol. The "Summer of love, drugs, sex, and rock and roll" now can add "celebrity worship" to this common depiction of the drug revolution of the 1960's. It has now been shown that celebrity worship at higher levels become as addictive as drugs and alcohol and even eating disorders. Buck Runyan, a Marriage and Family Therapist from Center for discovery, an eating disorder program, says adolescent girls view slender women on television as more intelligent, more successful and more desirable. "Adolescent girls interpret these images as the standard for gaining social acceptance."

How can we prevent our teen from idolizing these tragic figures of fantasy and deception? Or using drugs and alcohol as a way to escape from the pain adolescence often brings.
The buzz word is "self esteem" and lack of it, which can lead to destructive behavior as a way to cope with the confusion and insecurities teens often feel. Surely, having an open dialogue with parents without judgment and criticism is beneficial. Teens will feel more comfortable sharing their fears, frustrations, and discomfort with a parent willing to really hear what they have to say. If they are treated harshly and made to feel invisible, they may reach for something to take the edge off. Substance abuse and celebrity worship can be a form of numbing behavior. Guiding teens without controlling them allows children to be themselves without shame. If they feel judged and criticized, they will most certainly turn outward for validation. This is when the outward instant gratification becomes most appealing which can lead to following the detrimental fork in the road.

Sherry Gaba, Licensed Psychotherapist and Life Coach is the Life Coach for Celebrity Rehab 2 and Sober House with Dr. Drew Pinsky on VH1. Sherry specializes in addictions, eating disorders, single parenting/divorce, depression, anxiety, and finding your life purpose. She can be reached at 818-756-3338, www.sgabatherapy.com, or sherry@sgabatherapy.com.