Mental illness is one of the crucial aspects of human well-being. This is because it affects many individuals without excluding celebrities. Through this research paper, the information obtained sheds light on the effect of mental health by exploring a celebrity named Pete Davidson, who has gone viral for bravely sharing their experiences and diagnoses with the public. Pete Davidson achieved celebrity status through comedy and as a writer and actor. He was considered a celebrity through his night live standup comedy (Drillinger, 2023). Davidson’s talent, versatility, and willingness to share his experiences provided a solid foundation for his status as a celebrity in the entertainment journey.
Diagnosis and disorder.
DSM Diagnosis.
Pete’s DSM diagnosis revealed he had borderline personality disorder (BPD)(Bishop, 2023). This is a mental health kind of disorder that is associated with some unique characteristics like mood instability. Besides, victims of this disorder may also exhibit impulsive behavior and generally struggle to enjoy their relationships.
History /background.
Pete Davidson was born in Staten Island, New York, on November 16, 1993. He later became a celebrity and gained prominence during Saturday Night Live ( Priola, 2023). Later, he pursued a career in acting and comedy. The celebrity father is Scott Davidson, who was a firefighter and succumbed to death after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack(Drillinger, 2023). His father’s death is likely to have made Davidson more vulnerable to emotional distress, thus likely playing a contributory role in his future struggles and mental health life.
Family Background.
Davidson’s background includes his mother, Amy Waters Davidson; he also has a sister named Casey Davidson. These are the primary family members that are adequately documented. The dynamics that Davidson faced during his young age, considering the death of his father, may have played a pivotal role in shaping his mental health journey(Drillinger, 2023).
Coping strategies.
Davidson utilized both good and bad coping strategies. The good strategy includes therapy and medication as one way of managing his BPD. However, the lousy coping mechanism involved acknowledging struggling with substance abuse. Common substance abuse includes marijuana and other prescription drugs. Based on research, there are both negative and positive strategies in trying to cope with his mental health life(Algorani, 2023). The celebrity’s desire to fight the mental health challenges that were always glaring at him portrays his proactive approach to managing the whole situation. Davidson also struggled with managing drug abuse. He is, however, candid enough and acknowledges his struggle as a negative coping mechanism (Drillinger, 2023). He uses much humor and is open about his comedy experience. The celebrity’s ways of coping with the challenge act as a means of raising public awareness of mental health.
Medication and Psychotherapy.
Even though Davidson fails to disclose specific details concerning his treatment, he mentioned having received therapy. He shared a testimony of how he received psychotherapy and how he has been able to remain on medication as a way to manage his borderline personality disorder ( Priola, 2023). However, research fails to elaborate on specific details concerning his treatment regime. He also stated that he takes medication that is vital in managing his borderline personality disorder. He, however, elaborates on the challenges that people with mental health issues encounter, which include difficulty in finding the necessary medication while also emphasizing the ups and downs of his mental health journey.
Discussion.
DSM definition
DSM is an abbreviation of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is mainly a book used commonly by health care practitioners within the US and globally as an authoritative guide while carrying out the diagnosis of mental disorders. It, therefore, contains a clear description of the symptoms of the illness. Moreover, it also has the criteria for diagnosing mental disorders. For instance, the case of Davidson poses a Border Personality disorder whose symptoms are the presence of pervasive patterns that affect the stability of interpersonal relationships and intense or unstable emotions. Besides, they also experience difficulty in maintaining a stable relationship. Mostly, people suffering from BPD struggle with issues relating to their self-esteem and self-destructive behaviors, which may be impulsive.
Prevalence
According to Mary Pembleton, it is estimated that BPD affects 1.6% to 5.9 % of adults within the US (Borderline personality disorder (BPD): Symptoms, causes and treatment, 2023). Similarly, based on the information from the National Library of Medicine, BPD is also diagnosed in children. For instance, research conducted on 4816 children sample size from 69 schools indicated that there was a 6-month prevalence rate of overall mental disorders, which totaled 25% (Gronholm & Thornicroft, 2022).
Population affected most
Even though BPD illness affects individuals from all backgrounds, it commonly affects adolescents. However, it is essential to mention that it also depends on trauma history or abuse, which have been established to play a significant role in enhancing the risk of developing this kind of disorder(Borderline personality disorder (BPD): Symptoms, causes, and treatment, 2023).
Prognosis.
The prognosis of BPD is subject to variation, which all depends on factors like the severity of symptoms, their willingness to access therapy, and treatment(SADEK, 2024). Therefore, it is necessary to include appropriate treatment and support among the victims to improve their symptoms and quality of life.
Treatment options
Traditional treatment
Treatment of BPD may include applying various forms of psychotherapy. This includes dialectical behavior therapy, schema-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The therapies mentioned above play a significant role, given that they specifically focus on helping the victims to obtain coping skills. It also enables them to be in a position to regulate their emotions and improve their interpersonal relationships (SADEK, 2024). Medication is another alternative, but approval from the FDA is required for the medication to be acceptable.
Non-Traditional Treatment.
Mindfulness and meditation are some of the practices that enable individuals with BPD to become aware of their emotions. It puts the victims of this illness in a position to develop skills that are relevant to the management of distress. However, there are holistic approaches, which include Yoga and art therapy, which work in conjunction with traditional treatment methods.
How the celebrity is doing today
Based on the latest information, it is clear that Davidson is still more involved in his acting and comedy career. Even though it is still possible that specific details concerning his current mental health may not be in the public domain, Davidson remains a vocal character concerning his contribution to the management of his borderline personality disorder.
He has been very proactive in seeking support for his mental health condition, as portrayed by the way he was determined to seek medication. For instance, he went through a series of psychotherapy and psychotropic medications while also combining them with other relevant mental health assistance approaches.
Psychotherapy.
Davidson has once mentioned having undergone dialectical behavior therapy. Dialectical behavior therapy is a type of therapy that is majorly designed for treating BPD(SADEK, 2024). It specifically focuses on the development of skills for regulating emotions. Besides, it aids in the development of interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance. Notably, participation of Davidson in this therapy session is a clear demonstration of his commitment to not only learn but also apply coping strategies that are necessary for managing mental health symptoms.
Psychotherapy medications.
Even though it is evident that Davidson indicated he has sought medication management for his condition, the research information obtained fails to provide specific information about his medication. However, research indicates that the use of psychotropic medications, which include mood stabilizers and antidepressants, may be prescribed, given that they play a vital role in stabilizing mood ( Priola, 2023). Moreover, they also reduce impulsivity and further alleviate any symptoms that are associated with BPD(SADEK, 2024). However, another form of mental health assistance can be used in addition to the modern treatment approaches. For instance, Davidson explores the application of these non-traditional forms of mental assistance, which he applies to mainly complement his medication and therapy. Information from research recommends incorporating practices such as mindfulness meditation and holistic therapies, which are crucial in promoting stress management and overall well-being.
Treatment recommendations.
Davidson should continue giving priority to the treatment plan. Moreover, he should always incorporate strategies that can aid in addressing any co-occurring issues. Some of these co-occurring issues include substance abuse or trauma-related symptoms. Incorporating this would aid in supporting mental health recovery and reduce social stigma (Gronholm & Thornicroft, 2022). This is because BPD is complex and chronic and thus requires proper adherence to its treatment plan to avoid getting to the chronic stage(SADEK, 2024). Attending or gaining more information concerning psycho-education is vital, especially in emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. Moreover, exploration of emerging treatment modalities or adjunctive therapies should be considered. Some of the proposed treatment modalities for this case include Transcranial magnetic stimulation or ketamine-assisted psychotherapy(Pradhan et al., 2015). All this should be done with qualified mental health professionals’ guidance. Managing this condition requires a commitment to the prescribed treatment plan and self-awareness.
Conclusion
Davidson is the epitome of inspiration. He has been able to maintain an open dialogue and cover his experiences in his struggle to advocate for mental health awareness. Therefore, it serves as a fabulous inspiration to others navigating similar challenges. Davidson’s willingness to discuss the issue in broad daylight, especially information concerning personal mental health struggles he has been incurring, motivates society to deal with the social stigma associated with it. These struggles have thus become a great motivation to those going through similar challenges and thus become an inspiration to many while building healthy awareness of current treatments.
References
Algorani, E. B. (2023, April 24). Coping mechanisms. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559031/
Bishop, D. (2023, August 11). Celebrities with borderline personality disorder: Pete Davidson. Knoxville Recovery Center. https://www.knoxvillerecoverycenter.com/pete-davidsons-struggles-with-mental-health/
Drillinger, M. (2023, July 3). Pete Davidson seeks treatment for mental health issues. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/pete-davidson-checks-into-rehab-for-ptsd-other-mental-health-issues#Dont-wait-to-seek-help
Forbes Magazine. (2023, November 28). Borderline personality disorder (BPD): Symptoms, causes and treatment. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-borderline-personality-disorder/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20borderline,due%20to%20shared%20genetic%20traits.
Gronholm, P. C., & Thornicroft, G. (2022). Impact of celebrity disclosure on mental health-related stigma. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 31. https://doi.org/10.1017/s2045796022000488
Pradhan, B., Parikh, T., Makani, R., & Sahoo, M. (2015). Ketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and depression specific Yoga and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in the management of treatment-resistant depression: Review and some data on efficacy. Depression research and treatment. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4609854/
Priola, V. (2023, May 10). Pete Davidson: A timeline of “the king of staten island” Star’s life. silive. https://www.silive.com/entertainment/2020/06/pete-davidson-a-timeline-of-the-king-of-staten-island-stars-life.html
SADEK, J. (2024). Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a Narrative Review with Focus on BPD Comorbidities. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.0206.v1
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