why are we talking about addiction?
Addiction and self-harm are often ways that we use to cope with our situation, but can appear to come out of no where.
The music industry is inherently anti-social, insecure and unpredictable. It can be an environment which triggers maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as addiction
Addiction and classical music
Addiction if defined as a loss of control of doing, using or taking something to the point at which it becomes harmful to you. Many people may start a behaviour to feel a sense of control, or escape from their current reality.
Managing an addiction can have a severe strain on people’s personal life, relationships and work. You may find it difficult to hold down a job, on the other hand many addicts are also very ‘high functioning’, which doesn’t mean their addiction isn’t as much of a problem.
Many social events surrounding music and networking include alcohol and a culture of drinking after gigs and concerts. Many people feel that they will miss out on an opportunity, or appear boring if they don’t drink, which can create an unhealthy relationship with alcohol among those with a predisposition to addiction.
Additionally, music operates around social events where drugs and alcohol may be readily available. It can be difficult to create a clear distinction between social life and work life, leading people to addiction due to this blurred line.
Self-Harm and Music
A self-harm behaviour is something we may do to find relief, release or cope with unwanted emotional experiences and distress. This may be in the form of cutting yourself, burning yourself, head-banging, ingesting poisonous substances, restricting food or engaging in risky behaviours.
Some people find self-harm is a way of processing emotion, often at the end of a stressful day. If we aren’t able to find adequate ways to process our emotions, such as speaking to someone, writing or decompressing through caring means, self-harm may feel like our only option to cope.
Musicians may use self-harm as a way to ‘come-down’ through a particularly intense period of music making. It may also be used as a way to process feelings of isolation or boredom during periods of time off.
If our life lacks a sense of control, or structure, self-harm behaviours can be our way of controlling what otherwise feels uncontrollable. Self-harm can also appear seemingly out of the blue, after beginning a new medication or as a response to an abusive relationship, either romantic or with a music tutor.
Listen to Lauren’s story dealing with alcoholism
Lauren McQuistin is a soprano, writer and addiction advocate. She spoke to Rebecca back in 2021 about her journey with addiction to alcohol in the music industry.
“You don’t have to be an alcoholic to have a problem with alcohol...I am very comfortable saying that because I’m an alcoholic in recovery. [As musicians, there are] the high stakes, intense emotions, all of that stuff ... we have that proper sort to just want to escape, like just that little taste of oblivion.”
Recovery
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Recognising that addiction is our way of coping with the roughness of our life is important. Shame can be a large component in allowing addiction to take over and deepen. It can be difficult to give ourselves this compassion, and so therapy might be an important next step. Links to addiction services are listed below
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We might use a harmful method to experience some relief from our emotional distress. The temporary relief can feel more important than the knowledge of long-term damage, physically and mentally, of carrying on.
We find comfort in self harm and can’t believe we will find relief elsewhere. Knowing that the road to recovery is likely to feel painful and complicated is part of going through the motions
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Trying to understand why you don’t want to recover can be very difficult. It’s a common misconception that you have to be ‘100% committed’ to begin recovery. You may not feel that it is possible to commit to letting go.
Letting go and finding healing happens slowly and there can be many temptations for relapse, even years after abstaining. Know that the brighter moments and freedom make this worth it and that you share this experience with many others.
When you’re deep in addiction it can sometimes feel difficult to ‘want’ recovery. It’s important to know that you, or someone you love, may not always want to recover. It’s important to honour this feeling and think about why you addiction has become something impossible to part with
Get Help
Addiction support is widely available in various forms. The way someone else recovers may not work for you and only you know what true recovery means. Recovery will always be worth it, but might be the hardest decision of your life.
People who can help
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Music Support
Support for musicians struggling with addiction
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Alcoholics Annonymous
Support for alcohol addiction
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Calm Harm
App for managing self-harm urges
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Harmless UK
Charity for self-harm and suicide prevention
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The Addicts Symphony
Documentary sharing the stories of classical musicians with addiction