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Demi Lovato Reportedly Hospitalized After Drug Overdose

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On Tuesday, TMZ reported that singer and mental health advocate Demi Lovato was hospitalized due to a drug overdose. Lovato, who has been open about struggling with addiction, bipolar disorder and an eating disorder, released a song last month called “Sober,” where she sings about relapsing in addiction recovery. The singer celebrated six years of sobriety last March.

Addiction tends to be common among those living with bipolar disorder. Studies suggest about 56 percent of people with bipolar disorder will struggle with addiction at some point in their lives.

Reacting to the news, fans shared their sadness and wished her strength in recovery.

If this news is hard for you, you’re not alone. While Lovato is a role model for many struggling with their mental health, it’s important to remember she’s human and recovery isn’t linear. As Mighty contributor Ameriah Schober wrote about mental health recovery:

It’s hard. This is a given. Recovery isn’t supposed to be easy (even though I wish it sometimes was)…

You’ll slip up. Again, recovery is hard. Recovery isn’t linear. There will be times when you’ll be doing great, and there will be times that you won’t be doing so great…

[But] recovery is worth it. As much as recovery sucks, it is so worth it. Recovery is probably the best decision I’ve ever made.

There is help if you are in crisis or are struggling with addiction. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.  If you or a loved one is affected by addiction and need help, you can call SAMHSA‘s hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

Header image via Creative Commons/Juan Luis Garcia

Originally published: July 24, 2018
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