Oh Ben ... Not Again!!

[AnnieH]

Cousins in hospital with head injury after fall

WA Today says that he was in a "psychiatric" hospital.
On Channel 9 this morning they said he was in rehab again.

Oh Ben.
Just when I thought we'd seen the last of you...

[Big Al]

I guess once you're in the public eye any semblance of privacy is thrown out the door. It incenses me that because your an AFL footballer your life becomes public property.

Anyway, I wish him, and all people suffering a mental illness, a speedy recovery.

[AnnieH]

Since when was his problem "mental"?
Drug addiction and mental illness are two different things.

[Big Al]

Maybe the fact he fell over at a private psychiatric hospital gave me a clue that all is not well.

Also Drug Addiction and Mental illness a lot of the time go hand in hand unfortunately.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203090143.htm

[AnnieH]

Psychiatric hospital as reported by the paper.
Rehab, as reported by Channel 9 News Perth.

The only private hospital in West Leederville does both.

They should leave him alone now. He's just a nobody ex-junkie who obviously can't get it together.
Leave him to rot.

[AnnieH]

Maybe the fact he fell over at a private psychiatric hospital gave me a clue that all is not well.

Also Drug Addiction and Mental illness a lot of the time go hand in hand unfortunately.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1203090143.htm

What about those people who take drugs but don't have a mental problem.
I'm pretty sure the "researchers" at one stage said that if you have a pre-disposed mental problem, drugs will only make it worse.

[goswannie14]

Since when was his problem "mental"?
Drug addiction and mental illness are two different things.

Not necessarily Annie. Mrs GS14 works in a detox centre. There is a very close link between the two.

[Yuri H]

Yeah, having been through music scenes and the poetry/writers' communities in a few cities around the world, I can vouch for mental instability & addictions going hand-in-hand quite often ('artistic types' indeed). The two feed off of and fuel each other.

When he was an Eagle, I hated him and enjoyed his downfall ('2006, thou art avenged!'). Now that he's a shattered private citizen I feel pity for him (even if he's not artistic). Hope he's getting the help he needs - pretty obvious he needs more than he let himself believe he did.

[Wardy]

indeed no one in this life is perfect (least of all those who think they are!) - and I feel for his family, partner and new child. We can all judge, but unless any of us have walked in his shoes, (which I reckon I'm pretty safe in saying none of us have) we havent a real clue as to what's going on in his head and the demons he's fighting. The sad part now is that he cant do it in private - he's out of the footy limelight now - time the media left him alone too.

[Big Al]

indeed no one in this life is perfect (least of all those who think they are!) - and I feel for his family, partner and new child. We can all judge, but unless any of us have walked in his shoes, (which I reckon I'm pretty safe in saying none of us have) we havent a real clue as to what's going on in his head and the demons he's fighting. The sad part now is that he cant do it in private - he's out of the footy limelight now - time the media left him alone too.

Great Post!!

Compassionate and imo, spot on the money. I think when I was younger I wouldn't have shown addicts any sympathy at all but I've seen too much to have that attitude now.

[goswannie14]

indeed no one in this life is perfect (least of all those who think they are!) - and I feel for his family, partner and new child. We can all judge, but unless any of us have walked in his shoes, (which I reckon I'm pretty safe in saying none of us have) we havent a real clue as to what's going on in his head and the demons he's fighting. The sad part now is that he cant do it in private - he's out of the footy limelight now - time the media left him alone too.

Thanks Wardy, summed it up perfectly.

[Primmy]

I ache for all of his family and friends, and for the medico's who are doing their best and are just not winning the fight. And its about time I started praying for Ben (and Daniel Chick for that matter) because I do not want to see how this could end. So desparately sad at every level.

[Xie Shan]

Yeah, having been through music scenes and the poetry/writers' communities in a few cities around the world, I can vouch for mental instability & addictions going hand-in-hand quite often ('artistic types' indeed). The two feed off of and fuel each other.

Yuri, what do you think of the 27 Club? When Amy Winehouse died, it was suggested that musicians and other performing artists are more at risk of dying in their 20s because they are more likely to live a life of excess. And 27 seems to coincide with the time when we transition from youth to maturity, as we put the more carefree days of our early 20s behind us and start to take on more responsibility. As for the higher incidence of mental instability among performing artists, it's certainly true that you find more of the sensitive souls in the music scene and in writers' circles, who are more vulnerable to mental illness.

[wolftone57]

Since when was his problem "mental"?
Drug addiction and mental illness are two different things.

Drug addiction can lead to psychological illness Annie. The usual suspect is what is termed 'Drug Induced Psychosis' and many drugs can develop this illness including pot. I have seen people trying to scratch holes in the walls because some nonexistent person is attacking them through the wall. This is a particularly troubling development and I hope Ben recovers but his recovery is going to be years not months. He might always have psychosis and be on anti-psychotic meds for the rest of his life. By the way I thought your attitude a little heartless in your second post. I hope he recovers and beats addiction or 'Black Dog' as it is called.

[DamY]

Agreed