Amy Winehouse

Often drug abuse is looked at as the cause of actions but often drug abuse is the symptom of mental disorders like depression and bipolar. This can be said about Amy Winehouse who was found dead in her home on July 23 2011 at the young age of 27. Did she need rehab or medication or both? Even though she was diagnosed years ago as manic depressive, now known as bipolar disorder, she never took prescription medication to help.

This brings to light the seriousness in getting help for mental illnesses, preventing another senseless death. The hardest thing is admitting it to yourself and others who can help. Drugs and alcohol being used as self medication is hard to give up. Why would you want to be normal when the high feels so good? The problem is the depressions that follows and you don't realize how much of a more fulfilled life you can have internally and amongst other people when you receive help.

Giving yourself the time and space to heal, creating new habits is vital for anyone with a mental disorder.  Feeling like your in a place where you have to hold it all together and have no room to take the space needed to recover is common. Unfortunately by not making that space in life, there is a high probability that it will take your life.

Amy didn't die alone that night. Many of us relate to her struggles with depression and bipolar disorder and others watch loved ones suffer while feeling helpless. We morn a talented artist and learn from her life and death.