The following essay gives an overview of Demi Lovato’s recovery story from her mental issues, which involved substance addiction, depression, bulimia, and bipolar disorder. Her treatment was a life-long journey at different qualified rehabilitation centers, which had a personalized approach to their patients. Analyzing her history of relapses, it would be most efficient to apply the Gestalt method to help her with her condition since this principle tries to look at the childhood and the development of the person as an individual. Lovato has continuously experienced pressure and unacceptance from society; hence, working on these problems might have been effective.
Many current popular show business stars are imparting open data about their fights against psychological illnesses. Modern teenagers and young adults can often relate to the stories of well-known stars who help them gain consciousness of current treatment and the significance of cherishing support. Demi Lovato has been a well-known individual in the entertainment industry since her early childhood. She approached the age of eighteen with her account of tormenting, dependence, a dietary issue, cutting, and depression (Franssen, 2019). It was during her treatment for dietary problems and addiction that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (Franssen, 2019). This is a psychological problem characterized by constant shifts in temperament, energy, and activity levels (Rosa, 2020). During that time, Lovato acquired adapting abilities and embraced approaches to control and comprehend her feelings.
She had experienced stress, a dietary problem, self-hurt, and being tormented before she went into recovery at 18. Her long journey to finding herself withheld many opportunities for her as a singer and an actress. On January 28, 2011, Lovato finished a long treatment at Timberline Knolls and returned to her career (Rosa, 2020). Timberline Knolls is an office established in Lemont in 2005 by a group of specialists and clinicians as a private treatment community for ladies managing injury, dietary problems, and illicit drug use (Timberline Knolls, 2020). Lovato recognized that she had experienced anorexia and bulimia, had hurt herself and had been on medications and liquor (Franssen, 2019). The clinic used the person-centered approach where the focus was on the celebrity’s harming childhood and personal beliefs about her surrounding environment (Rosa, 2020). She was expected to rethink her mental self-view and the genuine estimation of her self-esteem.
It was uncovered that Lovato was determined to work on her bipolar disorder while in treatment. Unfortunately, in July 2018, the star had an overdose and went through a few days in the hospital prior to undergoing treatment later that spring (Rosa, 2020). During Lovato’s breakdown and passage into treatment, the newspaper press accentuated the differentiation between her previous image as a young Disney diva and her new one, which had many problems (Franssen, 2019). This led her to look for the assistance of professional therapists while pausing her career.
Lovato received specialists’ help from different programs which did not follow the same approach and was majorly based on the existential approach and person-oriented therapy. The person-oriented method tried to find answers to her problems in herself instead of receiving direct advice from the therapist. Thus, the individuality of the star and the effect of her early fame on her emotional well-being was considered. It can be assumed that this kind of approach led to the improvement of Lovato’s situation.
However, existential therapy proved to be only effective for the short term since it has a small focus on connecting her current situation with past situations. Moreover, rehabilitation centers based their treatment on antidepressants and dieting, whereas it would be more helpful to conduct intimate conversations and practices (Timberline Knolls, 2020). In Lovato’s case, it would be efficient to apply the Gestalt approach instead of switching from one method to another. Gestalt treatment focuses on the patient’s involvement in the treatment instead of attempting to uncover significant recollections from their life (Crozier, 2014). This method is based on the Gestalt point of view, which indicates that people repeatedly live through their past troublesome or horrible encounters in the present (Crozier, 2014). Consequently, individuals are caught by their past until they can locate the cause of their state and draw necessary conclusions.
It frequently occurs that the key memories that torment people can be reached most straightforwardly through the body. There is an assortment of novel and dynamic techniques by which Gestalt advisors assist their patients in working with crucial memories (Crozier, 2014). Conceivably, there is a seating strategy, wherein the client is encouraged to begin a discussion with a critical individual from their life whom they envision to be sitting in a vacant seat put close to them (McLeod, 2013). The patients are asked to place themselves in the other individual’s position and to talk from their point of view.
Whenever there is a downfall of a celebrity, the newspaper press frequently establishes the pace in the crowd’s reaction to a star’s breakdown. However, the stars have the right to secure their privacy and to protest or to admit the comments. Lovato did more than just endeavor to rescue her standing; she also grasped her psychological battle and analysis with bipolar disorder (Rosa, 2020). The news about her self-harming appeared as fragmented videos in which she admitted that she had invested much energy in recovery and was managing issues similar to numerous young women of different ages (Rosa, 2020). Her honesty and revelation to the public also helped her accept herself as a human being.
For an individual such as Demi Lovato, who battled with self-perception and scenes of anxiety, it was easy to escape from issues through alcohol. The star would seek attention, which caused her bipolar disorder. This matches with the “high-profile” case, where the person unconsciously causes the self-harmed state because he or she wants other people to notice their personality (McLeod, 2013). Substance addiction can raise the manifestations of a psychological wellness issue. Successful treatment includes targeting all problems in a combinative format through a double conclusion program.
Demi Lovato discovered the solution through a calm environment, the support of her loved ones, and a full obligation to recuperation. She was figuring out how to cherish herself and be an independent woman. Despite this, she occasionally faces impediments to her old habits. The clinics where Lovato was rehabilitated followed a person-centered approach. Even though she felt better after each treatment, the long-term effect of the approaches was not as good. The singer had a history of returning her harming habits repeatedly. The combinational and personalized treatment was able to bring her to a more stable state.
References
Crozier, D. (2014). Self-compassion. An introduction to self-compassion and its relevance in gestalt therapy. Gestalt Journal of Australia & New Zealand, 10(2), 85-108.
Franssen, G. (2019). The celebritization of self-care: The celebrity health narrative of Demi Lovato and the sickscape of mental illness. European Journal of Cultural Studies 23(1), 89-111.
McLeod, J. (2013). An introduction to counselling (5th ed.). Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.
Rosa, C. (2020). Demi Lovato’s history with substance abuse, explained. Glamour.
Timberline Knolls. (2020). Learn more about TK: Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center.