Picking up the Pieces
The world felt the loss of singer Whitney Houston this year. We were all captivated by her other worldly voice and we watched in dismay as she slowly destroyed herself with drugs and alcohol. However, as we mourned the star that she was, we may not have realized that she was also just a mom. Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, had a front row seat to her mother’s downward spiral. In the months since Houston’s death, 19-year-old Bobbi Kristina has had to cope with this loss in the public eye. Unfortunately, it appears that she may be on the same path her mother was. The reality show “The Houstons: On Our Own” chronicles the Houston family’s everyday life and struggles after the death of Whitney Houston. In one episode, Bobbi Kristina was drunk at a family dinner. As her aunt tried to talk to her, she continued to try to drink more and brushed off her aunt’s offers for support. It is clear that she has learned to cope with her mother’s death with drinking. Although she has had the example of what drugs and alcohol can do, she is going down the same path. When someone suffers a major loss, they may be at risk of abusing drugs and alcohol to help them deal with the situation. However, if addiction runs in the family, they have an even greater chance of falling into that trap. Drugs and alcohol doesn’t make the pain go away and doesn’t make the situation better. Hopefully Bobbi Kristina will learn to cope with the pain of losing her mother in a healthy way. How do you deal with disappointments, sad moments or losses in your life? Share with us below or on Stepping Stone Center’s Facebook page.