Amy Winehouse Passed Away

[THEV1LL4N]

yes she abused drugs, she was going through a daily struggle and she still put great records out for the fans across the world. her music contained references to her personal life and experiences but her habits and her talents are two different things and so they should be treated separately. amy, as a person, of course had many insecurities i believe, and yet pressured from under the spotlight, being heavily scrutinised by celeb magazines and what not was only going to worsen her situation. it wasnt going to be easy when she was already suffering.

i remember reading an article about her in a rehab clinic with a male 'therapist', and she seemed to have been making real progress and was quite close with him. it was kinda weird because they would hug, hold hands and whatever.. (almost like a romantic relationship) but it worked. when i read that article, i thought it was somewhat unusual but i was happy to see her getting her life back on track... then i was saddened to hear that a woman, who underneath all her troubles was like every one of us, had her life prematurely ended. yet another career cut short.

 

[Sebastian]

who underneath all her troubles was like every one of us

The only thing i had in common with her is that she was a fellow human being.

 

[S O F I]

For some addicted people, there is evidence of having lowered levels of dopamine activity in the brain which can predispose them to risk-taking behaviors and addictions. Genetics or brain injury can be causes of this imbalance. But this doesn't account for the majority.

In most cases, they're simply a matter of people making wrong decisions. Why does this happen? People make wrong decisions when their essential needs are not being met. Often, they don't even recognize what their essential needs are. Maybe they've simply been honoring everyone else's vision of how they should spend their days, and they have no real sense of who they are. After many years of this a person can get pretty frustrated--and never really understand why.

These are not stupid people making stupid choices when it comes to addictions. Rather, we have smart people, like Amy, who make choices that they're fully aware are foolish. But these are their choices. Whether it's out of frustration, anxiety, or anger, they want to get to a place with the addictive substance that allows them to alter how they feel in the moment. What they must sacrifice to do so--their health, respectability, family trust--becomes secondary to gaining a sense of euphoria, or at least a dulling of their pain. And they're never going to break completely free of their bad-choice-making until they address what's missing in their lives. Instead of thinking through their situation and working toward change, they distract themselves through escapist endeavors. They may gamble or take drugs. They may get into bad relationships or become overly responsible for others. In short, they do something that takes them away from themselves.

Addictive behaviors mask reality. They allow us to disguise the areas of our life that are not working. Any behavior that you perform compulsively can be likened to an addiction in the sense that you use it to avoid feeling and maintain the illusion of control. Talking on the phone can be an addiction. Talking can become a substitute for doing.

The problem with this post is the implicit assumption that you can "think through your situation and work toward change". Sometimes, there's no way out but feeding your addiction and eventual death.

I've read accounts of addicts who've "gone clean". They live miserable lives because nothing in their life is a substitute for what the drugs could do for them. They live, but at what cost? To be miserable? Fuck that. Sometimes, death doesn't seem so bad.

 

[raywaters11]

She didn't care about her life so why should we care about her death?
Millions die every day from hunger, war, drugs, etc. but one obviously fucked up woman dies after years of blatant substance abuse and it's a big deal. Who cares really..

 

[DJ Manny]

Sad news R.I.P Amy

 

[Pittsey]

Such little understanding of addiction.

When people start dabbling with heroin the last thing on their mind is addiction. Everyone believes they can manage the drug. No-one thinks Heroin will make their life better, no-one thinks it is the answer to their problems and will help them cope. People try it usually because someone close to them is using, or they can't get hold of any coke (any drug) so think they'll have a try of something else.

There are many reasons people try hard drugs. None of them start with the intention of becoming a junkie.

 

[dilla]

"She had demons she couldnt control"...now thats spooky language.

It's language used to sugar-coat a turd.

 

[Bobby Sands]

I really liked her as an artist.

poor woman was extremely messed up though.

RIP

 

[keco52]

There is a time and place to advocate and rally against drugs and alcohol. While ppl are paying their respects is NOT that platform. It's tactless.

 

[dilla]

 

[Euphanasia]

People who use drugs to escape that far from reality are weak, and I think it's good they're gone. You may not agree with me, nor do I expect you to.

First, I would say that anyone American who talks about the devastation in Japan being some kind of "payback" for Pearl Harbor is as much a moron as Rick Perry in the U.S. saying that we should fill a stadium for a prayer service to have God help us with problems that are "beyond our control." But now, to get down to the quote above. I have so many issues with this statement that it will be tough to articulate them, but I'll put forth the effort.

I'll say first of all that I believe that people that struggle with addictions in their lives are not only not weak, but remarkably strong. The fortitude and courage that it takes to go through life each and every day with a black cloud over your life is nothing I would wish on anyone and yet, it happens to so many people. Addiction is a very complex thing. There are genetic predispositions to begin with and that's not even accounting for the torment that many people on this world suffer through during the course of their lives. If your life has been pretty decent, that's great for you. Be thankful for that because many people go through shit you couldn't fathom in myriad lifetimes. The amount of courage and heart it takes to go through the course of life while enduring immeasurable pain is something that people with more fortunate lives tend to toss under the rug. Try living everyday in pain and heartache. It's only human to look for some kind of outlet to eradicate the pain you are feeling. I've never heard a single Amy Winehouse song. That's not the point. You don't have to know someone or hear the music to realize the abject effects of addiction and ignorance to that kind of devastating need only perpetuates the problem.

 

[dilla]

First, I would say that anyone American who talks about the devastation in Japan being some kind of "payback" for Pearl Harbor is as much a moron as Rick Perry in the U.S. saying that we should fill a stadium for a prayer service to have God help us with problems that are "beyond our control." But now, to get down to the quote above. I have so many issues with this statement that it will be tough to articulate them, but I'll put forth the effort.

I'll say first of all that I believe that people that struggle with addictions in their lives are not only not weak, but remarkably strong. The fortitude and courage that it takes to go through life each and every day with a black cloud over your life is nothing I would wish on anyone and yet, it happens to so many people. Addiction is a very complex thing. There are genetic predispositions to begin with and that's not even accounting for the torment that many people on this world suffer through during the course of their lives. If your life has been pretty decent, that's great for you. Be thankful for that because many people go through shit you couldn't fathom in myriad lifetimes. The amount of courage and heart it takes to go through the course of life while enduring immeasurable pain is something that people with more fortunate lives tend to toss under the rug. Try living everyday in pain and heartache. It's only human to look for some kind of outlet to eradicate the pain you are feeling. I've never heard a single Amy Winehouse song. That's not the point. You don't have to know someone or hear the music to realize the abject effects of addiction and ignorance to that kind of devastating need only perpetuates the problem.

Understood. I say my life is "good" in relation to what others go through. I know others go through some shit. But that isn't to say I don't have my daily struggles, just like anyone else.

I've had friends turn to drugs and alcohol. I've had them engage in other illegal activities and walk in on them while doing it. One thing you notice about addicts is they become hostile when you point it out. Some of them, at least. They don't want to quit, despite close ones suggesting that they stop. How do you help these people? Therapy? Do you talk to them yourselves, as a friend or a family member? If despite those two methods, they do not stop, what do you do then? In my case, they just distanced themselves further for me...or us. Eventually, we just lost contact. They got into trouble with the law. They still swore they wouldn't stop. The other got into trouble with their own family. Their mother drove 45 miles to walk in on the living hell that was that apartment. He still didn't stop. Everyone's unique. In the cases mentioned above, anyone could have seen it as a wake-up call. What do you do if they don't?

There are people that do the most insane shit to stay alive each and every day. They walk miles for a drop of water. Spend their days in the heat for a morsel of food. Why can this "energy, drive, motivation," not work the other way around? Wanting to revel in your own misery is fine. You have the right to do that. But I can not bring myself to sympathize with someone who deliberately hurts/kills themselves the same way I sympathize with someone who deliberately strives to survive another day. I will not say "poor Amy, she died. Silly drugs. Why did you let Amy consume you?" when I don't have to travel but 30 miles to the nearest city to see how others live on the opposite end of my cushy life. God forbid we bring other countries into this.

So no one can tell me I have no concept of what others go through. I've lived it at one point; my parents more so than me. If I can't speak ill of addicts because I haven't known one, you can't sympathize with for an addict unless you've known one. The problem is, I have known one.

 

[raywaters11]

The media is trying to make her look like a victim now. She was a piece of shit. Just because a piece of shit turns white and stops smelling doesn't mean it's not still a piece of shit. A polished turd is still a turd.

 

[dilla]

Just an interesting bit I came across: http://scandalousmuffin.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/too-soon-why-i-laugh-at-amy-winehouse-jokes/

 

[Flipmo]

I love how the internet makes certain people alot more militant than in RL, and I'm not just talking about this issue, just in general. It's quite something.

 

[raywaters11]

I love how the internet makes certain people alot more militant than in RL, and I'm not just talking about this issue, just in general. It's quite something.

Examples?

 

[Cooper]

Examples?

See any thread regarding vegans or religion.

 

[dilla]

See any thread regarding vegans or religion.

That has more to do with the intentions of the person starting those threads. Note how it's always the same provocative headline...the same recycled arguments ...

 

[Casey]

Ha, "person", like I'm the only vegan or atheist here. The only intent is to open people's eyes, and the literally dozens of PM's I have from members showing interests and asking questions about the former means what I do works. The latter, people tend to stick with the side they already chose (or their parents chose, or their parents chose). But discussing it is just:

 

[Flipmo]

My post wasn't meant to disrespect anyone. I'm just saying it's interesting how people are more likely to take extreme stances on issues online. As for Casey being specifically pointed out, he's confessed in the past that he does come off as being more 'extreme' on here than in RL. I'm quite sure Casey doesn't go around Birmingham disrespecting and beating down religious folks now. Also, Casey actually practices what he preaches. But, I'm sure the way some people act on here, it's a complete 180 to what they are in RL.

Like I said, it's not to diss people - its just an observation.