There are a lot of euphemisms in Hollywood, especially when it comes to addiction and treatment, and just general mental and physical health. For a while, “dehydration” meant drug addiction. “Exhaustion” meant drug addiction too or “someone had a complete nervous breakdown.” But in the 2010s, the thing with celebrity women seems to be seeking treatment for their “emotional health” or “emotional well-being.” There seems to be an assortment of facilities where someone can check in and stay for a time and have in-depth therapy (both one-on-one and group) and have a drug-and-alcohol-free environment. Back in the day, we just called this a rehab facility. But rehab has been rebranded as a “treatment facility,” and checking into one of those facilities doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a drug addict. But is that the case here?
Paris Jackson is seeking treatment to improve her “emotional health,” PEOPLE has learned.
“After a busy year of work engagements that took her all over the globe, Paris decided that she needed to take some time off to reboot, realign and prioritize her physical and emotional health,” a source close to the 20-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson tells PEOPLE. “She checked herself into a treatment facility to aid in her wellness plan and is looking forward to coming out of this revitalized and ready to tackle the exciting new projects that await her,” the source added.
Through the years, Paris has been open about her battle with depression and anxiety. In 2013, Paris was hospitalized after attempting suicide. Paris later admitted she attempted suicide a number of times during an interview with Rolling Stone in 2017.
Yeah, Paris has attempted suicide before and in reading her interviews, she just seems like a fragile person. I’m not saying that as an insult, but you know what I mean? Like, if you say the wrong thing to her, she’ll break like a fragile piece of glass. So is it more about that inherent fragility, or is it something else? And why the insistence on telling us about Paris’s “busy year”? Paris is barely an actress/model and she’s got an entire team of people trying to make her happen as a legit celebrity. I don’t know. I’ve always said that I would love for Paris Jackson to step away from the celebrity life and just go to college. I’ve been saying that for years – she needs to get away from “the scene” and just try to have a normal life.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I wish her well. Get the treatment she needs and stick with the treatment plan
Agreed. And given that emotional trauma is generally the precursor to addiction it is not inaccurate to say she is getting treatment for her emotional health. Good for her. I would love to see the dialog around addiction change in this way. Because whichever substance or behavior the person misuses, it’s being done to deal with a feeling they cannot manage.
Agreed. Paris no doubt had a traumatic childhood before and after MJ’s death; that sets a person up for mental illness and yes, addiction. It can’t be fixed just in a stay at a treatment facility-I hope she gets a regular therapist and meds for depression if she needs them (which I suspect she does).
Stay strong, girl.
Paris always comes across as someone who is carrying around a lot of pain and hurt. Will not be surprised if she writes a “Growing up as a Jackson” memoir in the future. Just by the stories that have come out about that family, it will not be all roses and rainbows
The Jackson has really done a number on those kids, Paris esp. Michael kept them away from the rest of his family, except his mother, and we can now all see why – he wasn’t cold in his grave when his siblings started fighting over control of the kids and their mother to get access to his estate.
Exactly. I don’t know if she has anyone good helping her, although the older brother does seem to be doing a bit better. Maybe he can help.
Even before MJ’s death, I’m sure her and her siblings’ life wasn’t easy. Micheal was an addict with some sort of Peter Pan syndrome (and he was a child molester, not that I think he ever did anything to his kids) and loads of issues; while I’m sure he loved his kids, he wasn’t exactly father material…
Truth is, they never lived a normal life, they never got the chance to learn to trust people, build friendships or get a proper education. Yes they have plenty of money, but that’s about all they have so life was always going to be a struggle for them.
I was just thinking the other day that I hadn’t heard about her for a while and maybe the powers that be had given up on trying to make her happen.
It wouldn’t surprise me if that’s part of the reason she’s having issues. I felt Paris had an incredible entitlement attitude. She seemed to really believe she should be embraced by Hollywood and by the public just because she’s Michael Jackson’s daughter. Very arrogant. If a person grows up having everything handed to them they can’t cope with “adulting”. It can literally drive a person into depression and anxiety when they’re faced with real-life challenges that are not immediately fixed for them.
Add on the imperative to be thin to get work as a ‘model’ and hello
addiction —> depression —> suicide attempts
In regards to having entitlement, I can’t help but see that her whole life, she was treated and paid attention to strictly because of WHO she was (MJ’s daughter) and not what she did. She didn’t create that mentality out of thin air. It was literally her entire environment since she was born.
Yeah, I don’t know why someone with her issues would persist in seeking a celebrity lifestyle. It can’t be she needs the money. Maybe growing up with MJ as a father she just can’t conceive of a normal life.
She seems to be seeking validation. She really needs a quiet lifestyle away from the limelight. Travel the world; go to college; do something other than try to be famous and getting depressed when it doesn’t happen quickly enough or for the reasons you want it to.
Seeking validation, exactly. She came from out of the shadows at 18 expecting a ready-made career in … whatever. Being famous, being sought-after. It didn’t happen. She tried every avenue under the sun. Acting. Singing. Political activist. Social justice warrior. She tried appealing to the LGBT cause by declaring herself bisexual. It was like a revolving door of things Paris tried. In the end, I just don’t think Paris is likable and it wouldn’t surprise me if she turned people off. She needs to find herself — her real self, not a manufactured, pretentious self. And she needs to get out of her own head and try doing something in service to others. It is very healing.
Exactly, go to college, do normal things, etc.
I would imagine that could be a healthier path for her. My guess is she’s still pretty young and didn’t fully grasp the difficulties of life of celebrity, especially while still trying to figure out who she is.
Hopefully once she’s doing better, she decides to pursue something out of the public eye. I hope this treatment is good for her, and I wish her well.
+100.
No shade or anything. But whenever I read stories like this I just think “aimless rich people problems”.
No shade?
Anxiety & depression are not rich people problems…they’re EVERYONE problems
Well the ability to just drop everything and go “reboot” is definitely a “rich people problem” don’t you think? Most of us just have to deal.
Not to pile on, but I think this attitude is problematic. We’ve seen plenty of wealthy people lose their fight against depression even with the best treatment available–think about Kate Spade. Depression does not discriminate.
Would bet my bottom dollar it’s hardcore drug addiction. (No judgement–I’ve been through it myself and am happy to be clean & sober now.) Lots of photos & videos of her appearing really out-of-it. She’s been looking a mess for a while now. I hope she finds her way to a healthy life.
Almost certainly, glad she appears to be getting the help she needs.
I hope that’s true but I’m quite the cynic about therapists/rehab when it comes to the rich and famous. The appropriate hard answers are easily ignored when money can buy easy answers.
I am afraid of ever reading a headline that something’s happened to her… she does indeed seem fragile. Best wishes to her.
I wish I could go away and rest and rehabilitate my emotions and my body! I’ve spoken on here of the recent loss of my Dad to ALS. The last year and a half have been so incredibly exhausting. I have two little kids, one was born just a month after my dad’s diagnosis… I am so exhausted and I wish I could just go away somewhere and rest my heart and mind and body. Every single person gets to a point where a real rest is truly needed… our society is not good at acknowledging or providing that to most normal people.
Charliepenn, my sister-in-law has ALS, sorry to read about your dad. It is rough for everyone.
I felt the same when I had two young kids, those years are just an exhausted blur and I stayed at home! Other than be rich and have hired help, nothing really can make it easier, getting away for any time would be nice but not really help much in the long run. The kids just have to get older and sleep more!
It gets easier! Now mine are preteens and life is amazing. I am well rested and enjoying life with kids so much more.
I feel for Paris. Having such a mentally ill father and no constant mother growing up can really mess you up.
I’m so sorry for you, and totally agree! I hope you can find time to wind down and regain your strength. ❤️
Sending you good thoughts, that’s such a tough thing to navigate. Hugs!
Oh man I am so, so sorry. I cannot begin to conceive of how overwhelming this has been for you and OF COURSE, you are craving some time for self-care.
We ALL deserve to be nurtured from time-to-time…but among women, in particular, it seems we are always reticent to do so. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be everything to everyone at all times.
I know it’s not always practical but we absolutely MUST make time for ourselves, even if it’s just a short weekend getaway or a couple hours getting a massage, mani-pedi, whatever.
I’m so sorry for your loss and I REALLY hope you get some time to relax–and SOON!
I’m so sorry about your dad.
I’ll second the call for some self care, even if it’s just in small increments. If you don’t have someone offering to help give you a little time, you might just have to flat out ask for it, and say it’s something you really need.
CharliePenn, I am so sorry for the loss of your father and the complications he experienced with ALS. With two small children to care for as well, you’d have been extraordinarily stressed. You sound like a strong person who was very close to their dad. No doubt he cherished all you did for him and how much you loved him. Now you must find time for yourself – it’s imperative that you do so. Like others have said, even if it’s only a little bit of time taken in small chunks, or even if you must ask those closest to you for help (if no one offers). Your little ones need you, and you cannot give them your best if you are feeling overwhelmed. You deserve to have an opportunity to recover a bit of yourself, and to heal, after how much you’ve sacrificed for others (easier said than done with two little ones). Being the “strong one” takes its toll. Having the courage to admit to yourself that you need a break (or two) takes strength, too. I’m pulling for you.
I am glad she is seeking help now.In the next few months we will be upon the 10th anniversary of the death of MJ.From experience I know how difficult it is losing parents.I can’t imagine having to deal with the world talking about your father as you continue to grieve.Especially this year with a milestone anniversary (10th).I can see all the magazine stories now “10 years later after the death of MJ…”
I’m down for celebrities getting help and talking about it as long as they’re fully genuine. Most people don’t have the money to do what they are doing. However, giving attention to mental health and making it a priority is so important.
Good for her for knowing she needs to take a step back.
I worry about her and I feel like we see another Lindsay Lohan/Amanda Bynes/Britney Spears-trainwreck type situation waiting to happen. She’s admitted to drug use and suicide and I wouldn’t be surprised if she suffers from anxiety and depression too (maybe she’s mentioned it before). I worried about those kids as soon as Jackson passed away and his family stepped in to care for them, they are one of the most dysfunctional celebrity families. And I’m sadly not surprised to see she is growing into a dysfunctional adult. We don’t hear much about the brothers but I think that’s because neither of them really want to be part of Hollywood. She should really take a page out of their book and step away for awhile. She isn’t entitled to fame just because of her dad and she needs to deal with her issues, most likely stemming from her father’s untimely death when she was projected into the national spotlight. I was always horrified at how the Jackson family put those kids on display right after their father died.
Do any of you remember the article posted here awhile back about how Paris and Macaulay Culkin got matching spoon tattoos and we were all wondering what the significance/meaning was behind it? Well, here’s my theory: A spoon is used to heat up drugs to inject them. I think that’s what the tattoos meant. So sad.
Oh FFS I hope not. If true, that is absolutely terrible and we should be very worried for her.
Macaulay seems like he’s past his hard partying ways. I think the spoon was just an inside joke or symbol to them. He’s very much an uncle to her and very protective; I don’t see him encouraging her to become an IV drug user.
This was a few years ago IIRC when he was still using. They did not look well in the pics they posted getting their tattoos. I think he was still using then. Drug users tend to use together regardless of their relationship. Heck, I know of parents that use with their children. Definitely not too far fetched if you really think about it.
I agree completely with you.–I made the exact same comment in a post about Paris a few months ago! That i believed their matching spoon tattoos to be a reference to opiate use. I know from personal experience (3 years clean & sober now–yay!) how a spoon is used to heat & prepare heroin & other opiates for injection. And i mentioned in that post how there was a photo that one or both of them posted to social media, where Paris is sitting on Macaulay’s lap and Macaulay still has a tourniquet tied around his arm. (Addicts tie off their arm to prepare a vein for the injection.) I really hope the two of them are on, or find their way to, a better path in life than they appeared to be on. Opiate use is a path straight to hell.–Life is a billion times better now that i don’t use anymore and i hope that others that are struggling with it, also find their way to a sober happy life.
@K-Peace First, congratulations on your sobriety! I am *so* happy for you! I’ve struggled with benzo addiction for almost 17 years and it’s been pure hell. I never got into IV drugs but addiction is never easy. I’m sober and in intense therapy now but everyday is still a struggle.
Yes, I vividly remember the tourniquet on his arm. They weren’t fooling anyone. I wish Paris and Macaulay the best and he looks so good now so there’s still hope for both of them. I wish you all the best in your life and your sobriety, K!
Oh my god. Spoon theory. Google it. It has nothing to do with drugs and everything to do with mental health.
I googled it and it seems like a nice theory but I don’t think that’s what their tattoos represent at all. Not even a little bit. The spoon theory is about chronic pain, not mental health.
The spoon theory also relates to things like depression. It is basically a theory that is used in many cases where just living life is exhausting, whether mentally, physically, or both.
@lama @meh Thank you for telling about the Spoon Theory. I just don’t believe that’s what the tattoos were about. I’m still grateful to both of you for piquing my interest though!
Paris has a lot of tattoos. People who have been cutters (which Paris has been) have said that’s a way to avoid getting back into cutting, kind of a safer substitute. Likewise “word” tattoos can be a way to remind them or others with difficulties of positive things. Lindsay Lohan seemed to collect some tattoos for similar reasons.
Dunno anything about spoons, though.
I loved when she had her comments turned off on Instagram; I thought it was a great way for her to engage without full immersion into public life. Then she turned the comments on and suddenly there are a million (very avid) fan accounts following her every move and posting fan art. I hope she reconsiders her modeling attempt at least for another fews years and allows herself to grow up, maybe in another part of the world.
that’s why they said it, ‘she’s had a busy year’ they’re concerned people don’t know and want them to know. and they mentioned she awaits the projects yet to come in the future, meaning she wants people to know she’s open for work in the future, going to rehab doesn’t mean she’s not available later on or uninterested in working. again, I don’t know what she’s done either, she gets more press for things like this than her ‘work’ but again her people went to People magazine to tell all of us about this. years ago when the gardener from desperate housewives went to rehab his people used the same strategy, name dropping the projects he’s been in within the announcement that he want to rehab-clearly using it as publicity which is gross IMO. addiction issues, mental health, etc. shouldn’t be used to get yourself attention. some celebs use it to destigmatize these issues and that’s good but others like paris and her team are using it for attention which is a shame. yes Paris, go to college. volunteer, do internships. why is a ‘normal’ life seen as uninteresting to her?
What I don’t like the celebrity norm is ‘well I had a busy year, so of course I need to go to rehab to recalibrate.’ No, healthy people don’t do that. If people around you are pushing you this much then they’re not listening to your needs and you need new people around you. If you need addictions to maintain ‘staying busy’ then something’s wrong
Young, rich and troubled. A deadly combo. Hopefully she gets the help she needs.
I like her and I think she beautiful and talented. And a pretty nice person as well. I wish you well Paris.
I think for Paris you can see how special the bond was between her and her father. She has been completely lost without him…so sad