Signs Emulation Has Become Unhealthy

As a society, we’re assaulted every day by images of unhealthy, inappropriate and abusive or potentially addictive behavior. Whether the images are in the form of television, billboard, newspaper or magazine advertising, or lurid headlines and provocative photos in tabloid, TV and magazine news stories, they’re everywhere. And, they’re very damaging. In fact, the negativity is so pervasive that a new generation is growing up with a warped sense of reality, idolizing heroes that are anything but, and jeopardizing their own chances for a healthy future. It’s tough out there to be a kid. It’s even tougher to be a parent. The signs are all around us: emulation has become unhealthy. … Continue Reading

The Myth of Celebrity Rehab

Nothing stirs the public’s interest more than a lurid story of a celebrity acting badly. Add a few embarrassing photographs of that celebrity stumbling out of a bar, or even better, a mug shot, and those gossip blogs see their traffic spike.

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Edie Falco on Addiction and “Nurse Jackie”

Fans of HBO’s The Sopranos are likely eagerly awaiting Edie Falco’s next role as the star of the new Showtime feature Nurse Jackie, which premieres Monday June 8th. While fans might know that Falco’s character is a veteran nurse with a bad back and an addiction to pain medication, they might not know that Falco herself has struggled with addiction, giving her special insight into the character.

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New Reality Show “Obsessed” Uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Treat Anxiety Disorders

By Meghan O’Dell

“Obsessed,” a new reality show on A&E, gives viewers an inside look at the struggles and recovery of individuals who are suffering from extreme anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, germaphobia, and hoarding. The series debuts Monday, May 25 at 10 pm ET/PT, following the series premiere of the popular show “Intervention.”

40 million adults age 18 and over in the United States are affected by anxiety disorders, making it the most common mental illness in the U.S. “Obsessed” explores the stories of people suffering from anxiety disorders, as well as the effects on their friends and family. Each one-hour episode showcases two individual cases where the subjects are debilitated by anxiety disorders. Each participant will undergo a highly successful form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy that exposes them to the sources of their greatest anxiety to manage their fears.

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Celebrity Rehab Shows: Helpful or Harmful?

From watching a group of strangers learn how to live together in a lavish house on MTV’s “The Real World” and chronicling the ups and downs of dog grooming on the Animal Planet’s “Groomer Has It” to seeing two (or three or four) people fall in love on shows like “The Bachelor,” voyeurism has become a way of life for television viewers. These increasingly popular reality series allow viewers to live vicariously through others-either pitying them on shows like “The Surreal Life,” which throws a group of washed-up celebrities into a house together, or admiring them as their unique talents are displayed on shows like Bravo’s “Top Chef.”

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