When you think about Hollywood, the first thing that comes to mind is big houses, all the luxury you can imagine, and lots of partying.

However, all these great things are somewhat accurate, but some underlying issues affect our favorite stars’ lives.

Mental health is a challenge that Hollywood constantly faces, calling it anxiety, depression, or social disorders. Many celebrities are battling with such issues.

So to counter such scenarios, they  use antidepressants and brain sedatives to improve their condition.

Drug Addiction problem

Drug addiction is always associated with Hollywood stars. Many celebrities use drugs for the various effects they provide.

Because of the way of life that celebrities live, always on the camera, someone is always watching you, anxiety is a common issue that occurs to them. 

So many of them use prescription drugs like Xanax that comes from a drug class known as Benzodiazepines, to cope with their anxieties, panic attacks, and insomnia.

Xanax 

Benzodiazepines (benzo) like Xanax is a sedative assigned to treat anxiety and panic disorders. However, Xanax  can become addictive if used extensively and for a more extended period. 

Xanax works in the central nervous system to provide a calm and relaxing effect inside the brain. 

Because of these effects, people start to take more Xanax to increase the easing effect. And by the time they know, they become an addict. 

American singer and songwriter Jonathan Davis from Korn states in an interview that “Benzos are the Devil.”

Xanax depresses the central nervous system; therefore, in some cases, it causes depression in people.

Heath Ledger is famously known for playing “Joker” in “Batman begins” has died on 22 January 2008 because of a drug overdose containing prescription drugs like Xanax.

How is drug addiction pushing people to depression?

Drug addiction is a widespread cause of depression because drugs interact with the nervous system in the body to show effects.

Drugs usually artificially interfere with the neurotransmitters that can make a person sad when the effects of drugs go away.

There are two significant ways that drugs increase depression in a person.

Neural imbalance

Drugs promote the feeling of euphoria to the users. Increased neurotransmitters achieve the high or the happy feeling in the brain.

Because of it, the user starts building tolerance that leads to an increase in the amount of drug to feel the high of the drug.

Due to the increased amount of drugs, the release of artificial neurotransmitters also increases in the brain. When the effects go away, the person who is using feels severe sadness, and the repeated process can cause depression.

Repercussions

Drugs can bring many negative consequences in life. First, because staying on drugs can make your life difficult.

Substance abuse can lead you to lose your job, destroy your relationships, ruin friendships, ruin your health.

Because of it, many people feel guilt, shame, and extreme sadness. Which, if persisted for a more extended period, can cause depression.

How to cope with your addiction.

Solving the problem of addiction is  a big underlying issue . Treatment of any addiction varies from person to person. 

You have to experiment to see what are your mental needs are and what is working for you.

Some common treatments for addictions are:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT  helps in the treatment of many addictions. It allows you to learn about your behavioral patterns and what triggers your addictive behavior.

You can use this information to learn about the habits and change them.

• Detoxification

Detoxification is a process that allows you to eliminate unwanted substances like drugs. 

It does not solve the problem of addiction. Thus, it is more helpful when combined with behavior therapies. 

• Contingency management 

Contingency management is used to treat many addictions. In this therapy, people gain rewards to make positive changes in their lives.

It activates the reward system of the brain that can help you to make good decisions.  

• Medical treatment

Medical treatments can help you in your way to cure addiction. In addition, it can help you to reduce cravings and addictive behavior.

Medical treatment works very well if used with therapy. It can also be used to minimize the risk related to withdrawal symptoms.