Amy Winehouse’s well being battles main as much as demise – from despair to bulimia

Sep 09, 2023 at 9:31 PM
Amy Winehouse’s well being battles main as much as demise – from despair to bulimia

Amy Winehouse‘s contralto vocals on the observe Back To Black led to worldwide fame on the age of 23.

While her distinctive voice garnered a big following, her damaging life-style attracted the headlines of the media.

It had been well-documented that she had issues with heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol, however repeatedly refused rehab or psychiatric assist.

In an interview on The Album Chart Show, whereas nonetheless alive, Amy stated: “I do drink a lot. I think it’s symptomatic of my depression.”

And it was alcohol toxicity that was reported on the coroner’s report when Amy handed away on July 23, 2011, on the age of 27.

The Grammy award-winning singer had joined the 27 Club – a listing of celebrities, primarily musicians, who did not make it to a different 12 months.

The drink and medicines took their toll on Amy, however it was an consuming dysfunction that fatally weakened her, based on her older brother Alex Winehouse.

Speaking in 2013, he stated his sister’s lengthy battle with bulimia “left her weaker, and more susceptible”.

He added: “She would have died eventually, the way she was going, but what really killed her was the bulimia.”

Speaking to mark the opening of an exhibition devoted to his sister’s life on the Jewish Museum in Camden, north London, her system had been fatally weakened by years of bulimia, a illness by which bouts of utmost overeating are adopted by despair and self-induced vomiting.

He stated: “Had she not had an eating disorder, she would have been physically stronger.”

Alex shared Amy had developed bulimia in her late teenagers however by no means managed to shake off the sickness.

Depression

Mental well being charity Mind defines despair as “a mental health problem that involves having a low mood or losing interest and enjoyment in things”.

It provides: “The symptoms you experience may vary. How intense they are, how long they last, and how much they affect your daily life can also vary.

“If you expertise milder despair, you might need low temper however nonetheless be capable to keep on together with your every day life. But issues might really feel tougher and fewer worthwhile.

If you’ve gotten extra extreme despair, you would possibly discover day-to-day life way more troublesome.”

Common symptoms of depression can include feeling:

  • Down, upset or tearful
  • Restless, agitated or irritable
  • Guilty, worthless and down on yourself
  • Empty and numb
  • Isolated and unable to relate to other people
  • Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy
  • Angry or frustrated over minor things
  • A sense of unreality
  • No self-confidence or self-esteem
  • Hopeless and despairing
  • Feeling tired all the time.

A person who is suffering from depression might:

  • Avoid social events and activities you usually enjoy
  • Self-harm or suicidal behaviour
  • Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions
  • Losing interest in sex
  • Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
  • Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual
  • Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
  • No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight
  • Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause
  • Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are also considered a mental health condition where you use the control of food to 1cope with feelings and other situations.

The NHS explains: “Unhealthy eating behaviours may include eating too much or too little or worrying about your weight or body shape.

“Anyone can get an eating disorder, but teenagers between 13 and 17 are mostly affected.

“With treatment, most people can recover from an eating disorder.”

Mind charity offers an infoline at 0300 123 3393 to discuss mental health problems, where to get help near you, and treatment options.

If you think you may have an eating disorder, see a GP as soon as you can.

You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity Beat by calling their adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 or youth helpline on 0808 801 0711.

Amy Winehouse – The Day She Came to Dingle is on Saturday, September 9 on BBC Two at 9.35pm.