The Mental Health of Britney Spears

Everyone knows Britney Spears. She’s been a household name for decades famous for her unique voice and songs that are popular among all age groups. Her life in the spotlight seemed glamorous at first, but after many breakdowns, the public has been able to see the struggles behind closed doors. Many times, she has tried to speak up about her mental health issues, but was never truly heard. Now, it’s fortunate that she’s able to finally reveal the seriousness of her situation. 

Britney started dance lessons at age three and singing at age five. Soon after, she starred in her first show, The Mickey Mouse Club. Her parents were strong supporters of her career and pushed her to start early. At seventeen, she became one of the biggest pop stars with her song Baby One More Time. With her rising fame, however, came many issues. She struggled with a lack of control of her life, drug abuse, anxiety, and depression. One famous instance was when she shaved her head in 2007 - many didn’t realize this was a serious cry for help. Additionally, because she wasn’t able to speak out and receive the help and support that she needed, she lost custody of her two sons. She was criticized for almost every interaction she had with her kids ranging from driving with them to holding them in public. After the loss of the custody battle, she spiraled deeper into her drug abuse and was ultimately sent to a psychiatric ward. Because she was deemed mentally unstable and unable to take of herself, the court placed her under a conservatorship led by her father. After thirteen years, she’s still under the conservatorship. 

Conservatorship is a term that represents a court case where a judge appoints a responsible person or organization (called the “conservator”) to care for another adult (called the “conservatee”) who cannot care for themselves or manage their finances. In many cases, this law is helpful for those who genuinely need assistance in managing their lives due to mental health or other issues. Britney’s case, however, is an example of how it can go wrong and be taken advantage of. In her recent court statements, she details her lack of power over her own life. She states she was drugged, was not allowed to have children, and was forced to perform to make money. She says that all she wants in life is to get married, have children and be happy.

Britney is a perfect example of the psychological consequences fame can have, especially childhood fame. Many childhood actors and actresses later abuse drugs and have serious mental health issues in their early adult lives. They report feeling isolated from their peers because they didn’t go grow up the same way. They feel lonely because they often don’t have strong support systems such as friends or family to confide in. Also, they are taught from a young age that performing is the only way they could receive love and admiration. This alters how they view interpersonal relationships and is often why relationships don’t work out for these individuals. They are exposed to drugs and sex at a young age and are forced to grow up quickly (Behrens-Horrell, 2011). When researchers evaluated the success of childhood stars, they found that the ones who grew up unscathed (i.e. Leo DiCaprio, Scarlett Johansson, etc.) all had one thing in common. They had family and friends who supported them and didn’t push them to perform. They grew up happy because they were able to receive unconditional love, something Britney has never received. This year, Britney turns forty and is fighting to end her conservatorship. Let’s give her the freedom she deserves. 

Reference
Behrens-Horrell, W. (2011). The child performer. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-the-trenches/201106/the-child-performer