Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Saturday, July 04, 2009

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ: Michael Jackson's death, as had been predicted, has spawned more questions than answers. Was MJ a drug addict, an intense insomniac or the victim of poor care? Perhaps all three? Or was he convinced that, if a medical professional of any kind, told him that something was "safe" that he could use prescription medications, even at high doses and in situations where they never were intended? Who takes an injectable sedative meant for the operating room to get a good night's sleep? How could anyone think that a professional standing by could guarantee he'd awaken after taking this medication in his bedroom? General anesthesia, used in any OR, is still risky and sometimes patients don't wake up.

Patients I've met over the course of my career in mental health have described two different ways to think about any substance that can change your mood, affect your level of alertness or change you in any way mentally. They referred to all drugs as "drugs," not medications and drugs (meaning street drugs). "What's the difference," they would ask, "if I get it from a friend or a doctor? It still gets me high." Michael Jackson didn't see it that way. He, according to reports, was against drug use, but felt he needed prescription medications that he didn't see as "drugs" and he didn't feel he abused them because he had prescriptions for all of them.

Elvis Presley used excessive amounts of prescription medications and, supposedly, knew exactly what to say to get the prescriptions he wanted. President Kennedy had a bad back and major medical problems and he had a special physician come to the White House to give him shots of what appear to have been amphetamines. Many entertainers have, after an accident, found themselves addicted to pain medications, so it's not unusual for someone with money and fame to easily fall victim to the greedy or those addicted to being close to the rich and famous. Addictions, you see, come in many forms and not all of them have to do with medications or street drugs. Heath Ledger, the actor, experienced serious insomnia and trying to get a good night's sleep may have resulted in his untimely death.

In my opinion, Michael Jackson was a victim in many ways. Say what you will about certain aspects of his life which may have seemed bizarre, he was a man who was terribly anxiety ridden. Anxiety isn't easy and it can be your worst nightmare once it grabs on to you. Jackson suffered from lack of sleep because of his anxiety and the strain of his career, was seriously underweight and probably extremely panicked that his last tour might not be what his fans expected. He wanted love and adoration but no one knew how much it took out of him and I wonder if we'll ever know. Is there ever any truth or only one person's version of what they think the truth is?

One thing's for sure; a lot of people are going to try to make a lot of money over this dead man's music, memories and memorabilia, so he's going to be victimized even further.

http://www.drfarrell.net

Patricia A. Farrell, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Patricia A. Farrell, Ph.D., LLC

Englewood Cliffs, NJ