HEALTH: How to Get Help That Actually Works: The Verywell Mind Podcast

lunes, 8 de noviembre de 2021

How to Get Help That Actually Works: The Verywell Mind Podcast

How to Get Help That Actually Works With Multi-Platinum Singer Bryan Abrams

Amy Morin, LCSW
Verywell Mind Editor-in-Chief

In today's episode, I talk with Bryan Abrams, a multi-platinum award-winning singer who is best known for his role in the R&B group Color Me Badd. The group rose to the top of the charts in the 90s with songs like "I Wanna Sex You Up," "I Adore Mi Amor," and "All 4 Love."

As the group rose to fame and sold millions of records, Bryan dealt with some serious private battles—including depression, an eating disorder, and drinking too much.

After several attempts to get better, Bryan found a rehab center that helped him address his mental health and substance abuse issues. Now he's speaking out about his experiences with the mental health system, and is determined to stay healthy and sober as he launches his new solo career.

I took a story that I thought was bad and I was ashamed of, and turned it into something that I could use as a tool to reach people."

— Bryan Abrams

Why Bryan Abrams Is Mentally Strong

Bryan chose to make his private struggles public. He even went on the Dr. Phil television show to talk about his problems. On the show, he accepted treatment at a rehab center.

Bryan is open about the fact that, although treatment was helpful, his journey is far from over. He says that working on his eating disorder and his substance abuse issues has caused him to address the mental health issues he was trying to mask with his addictions.

He acknowledges that speaking out about his struggles has helped him stay accountable so he can maintain his sobriety. Now he wants to encourage others who are struggling to seek help.

That whole AA thing is not a joke. When you become selfless, then you can start to get sober. Then you can start to find happiness."

— Bryan Abrams

What You'll Hear on the Show

When Bryan's eating disorder started
How he slowly developed a problem with alcohol
Why several treatment attempts did not work for him in the past
What finally made him decide to get help again
How COVID impacted his mental health and substance use
How he found an inpatient rehab center that worked for him
What makes some inpatient treatment centers better than others
The types of treatment he continues to receive
The biggest barriers to getting help
What he's noticed about his mental health since getting sober
His advice for anyone out there who may be struggling with an addiction or mental health problem
How to find the best help for yourself

What You'll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength

If someone goes into the hospital to get surgery or to address a serious physical health issue, no one sees that as a sign of weakness. Unfortunately, however, there can be a stigma attached to getting help for a mental health issue or a substance abuse problem.

Sometimes, inpatient treatment or intensive services are the most helpful way to address co-occurring disorders. That was the case for Bryan. He was battling several problems at once, which is quite common.

Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. And Bryan acknowledges that it took a lot of courage for him to acknowledge that he couldn't manage his substance use and mental health issues on his own.

There are people that are going to be looking for inspiration, but there are also going to be a lot of people looking to see me fail. And I would be lying if I didn't say that lit a fire under me too because I want to prove to everybody that thought I was going to fail that I can do this."

— Bryan Abrams