Viewing Britney in a new light

I am often very bothered by the amount of attention celebrities get. While it is true that they are in the public eye, celebrities have a right to privacy and to deal with their problems without the population judging them. No one is perfect - not even a celebrity worth millions of dollars.

Who among us doesn't have some sort of issue? If I was behaving the way Britney Spears is, I would have loads of family members and friends trying to get me help. Because I'm not famous (yet), I don't have hoards of people following me with cameras or media hounds trying to twist what's going on in my life to make a good story. Those acts simply add to the stress of someone already struggling and on the edge of another tragedy.

But perhaps Britney's celebrity status will bring attention to some very serious mental issues and prompt regular people to recognize out-of-control behaviors in themselves or in people they care about. How wonderful it would be if someone gets the help they so desperately need because of the attention Britney is getting.

Many get scared when realize they have a mental health disorder. It's almost as if the fear of how others will treat them outweighs the realization that the right medication can balance out the struggles and allow patients to finally work on the fundamental cause of the problem.

Britney Spears almost certainly has issues. Again, who among us doesn't. I'm saddened that her celebrity status makes the general population laugh at her struggles, as if she doesn't deserve the love and respect a non-celebrity would get. Yet I'm hopeful that in the end, at least one person will benefit greatly from the media attention Britney and her condition is getting.