It’s all too often that teenage stars face serious emotional problems that affect their physical well being, whether it’s addiction, eating disorders or simply reckless behavior brought on by the stress of being in the public eye. Demi Lovato, star of the Disney Channel’s “Sonny With A Chance” and the “Camp Rock” movies, is the latest to fall victim to these pressures. She has left her tour with the Jonas brothers to seek medical treatment for “physical and emotional” issues.
“Demi Lovato left her tour early this weekend in order to seek medical treatment for emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time,” a rep for Lovato said in a statement.
“Demi has decided to take personal responsibility for her actions and seek help. She is doing just that. She regrets not being able to finish her tour, but is looking forward to getting back to work in the near future.”
Lovato hasn’t been the sort of tabloid regular that other troubled young stars, like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, have been. But, she works, according to sources, almost all the time. Between her hit television show, her albums, promotional tours and shooting TV movies the teenager is constantly on the move. Now, after being pushed to the limit, the young star is taking the time to deal with the emotional issues (reportedly cutting and eating disorders) that have built up because of the pressure.
Dr. Jenn Berman, a Beverly Hills psychologist who counsels troubled young performers, spoke to the Today Show on the subject. “It is an incredibly difficult schedule,” Berman said. “It’s incredibly demanding and it can be very high-pressure, especially for kids who really become very successful.”
For kids with the right kind of family support, the stress can be managed. But, Lovato is estranged from her father, and clearly has some other family complications that can only make handling the pressure more difficult. Hopefully the young star is getting the help she needs and will find a way to balance her fame with a healthy lifestyle.
