Does the Anthony Weiner Story Trivialize Addictions?

There was a time when I would have agreed with everything you've said here. Then I saw Robert Weiss, a renowned expert in the assessment and treatment of sex addiction, in an interview on the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show. When asked about this "excuse for bad behavior" thing - an all too common belief - he said: "I don't know any kind of addict who goes into treatment because they want to be a better person. Addicts go into treatment because they're in trouble."
In other words, yeah. Making excuses *is* part of addiction. Everyone, no matter what their addiction of choice is, makes excuses for their behavior and choices when they are in the throes of their addiction. Not just politicians and movie stars. Everyone.
I also question the basis of your assumption that Weiner is " ... seeking professional help to excuse his bad behavior ...." Has Weiner actually said, 'Guys, this isn't my fault. I'm an addict!'? I haven't heard him make an excuse once ... unless the simple act of entering treatment constitutes an excuse. In which case, where's the line? Is everyone who enters treatment just making an excuse? Or just famous people? Politicians? I guess what I'm asking is, in the absence of any statement by Weiner that alludes to shirking blame, why are we assuming that's what he's doing?
Here's the thing - this is precisely what people say about *all* mental illness. And you don't have to be famous or a politician to hear things like, "There's nothing wrong with you. You're just making excuses for bad behavior." That's what illness looks like. It looks like odd or aberrant or bad behavior. You're depressed? People tell you you're just lazy. You're anxious? People tell you to chill out. You're bipolar? People tell you you're just moody and arrogant. And on and on and on. This, as I see it, is no different.
If you're interested in watching Robert Weiss' interview, you can find it here: http://www.healthyplace.com/tvshowblog/sexual-addiction-facts-and-fallacies/
and here: http://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/videos/realities-of-sexual-addiction-video/menu-id…

I love this post. The phrase that keeps sticking out in my mind is does it "further stigmatize addiction"? I think it does because of the way he, himself, handled it. He did everything he could do lie, cover it up and diffuse the situation by even going so far as to imply someone had hacked his Twitter account. When it became obvious that he was caught, then he went to the "I'm so sorry for the people I've hurt" and the revelation that he would seek treatment for his illness. To me, this does not seem like illness, but rather bad behavior that he thought as a man in a powerful position he could get away with. Just from some of the images that came out, it did not seem like a man who was acting in so much a compulsive sexual manner as it did someone who was exhibiting how he could exploit his power and use it to address his own indiscretions.
Other famous people and politicians that have been caught in what truly seems like addictive behavior have actually sought treatment and then gone on to actively work to reduce stigma on these issues. It remains to be seen if former Congressman Weiner will do so in the future. But I suspect not, he will probably try more to rehabilitate his "image", I think, in order to further his political ambitions one day. If he were truly to work to help others gain awareness of addictive behavior and mental illnesses then that would be a different story. I guess it remains to be seen. But no matter how the press or comedians cover this story, the overall impression that I have is that this was just a man, who for whatever his personal reasons were, was behaving badly and maybe even enjoying he fact that he was getting away with it. The consequences don't seem like they will help any kind of awareness but rather seem to further ridicule of those who actually do have diagnosable addictions and illnesses. So, in my mind, this actually does the opposite, it fuels stigma.

@Tami "He did everything he could do lie, cover it up and diffuse the situation by even going so far as to imply someone had hacked his Twitter account. When it became obvious that he was caught, then he went to the “I’m so sorry for the people I’ve hurt” and the revelation that he would seek treatment for his illness."
You've just described how *all* addicts handle their addictions. Lying, going to ridiculous lengths to avoid detection, only admitting wrongdoing when there is absolutely no other way out. That's addiction.
@Kendra To be clear, I agree with you. I do think media attention is helping stigmatize and further shroud addiction and addictive behavior in a veil of myth and misconception. But it's not by considering that Weiner might be a sex addict. It's by insisting that he's not. That's how people respond to addictive behavior across the board, whether it's a celebrity, a politician, or their spouse. By refusing to entertain the idea that Weiner might genuinely have a problem, we are helping to ensure that addicts everywhere continue to get blown off as making excuses.
Great discussion, Kendra. Thanks for bringing this issue up!

Yes, that is well said. It's hard to contain such a media response when it involves the name he happens to have and the nature of how the story unfolded I suppose. It's just like a ready made gift to late night comedians and on something like Twitter, it's too easy to make a quick one liner joke. I've been guilty of that myself. But I do see your point on the bigger picture and perhaps more people talking about it in the context that you have will help dispel the joke that's been made of all this and start a larger discussion of the real issues behind this kind of behavior. I agree that everyone should be able to seek treatment for an addiction, illness, or even to address whatever issues one need's help with, without feeling shame. I don't know if anyone but him and how he decides to seek help can know if it's a compulsion or some need for approval and attention to address underlying insecurities. I do hope that more mainstream media will look at the bigger picture though too and at least some try and discuss it in terms of those that truly struggle with such behavior and can find better resources to help them recover from true addictions and mental health disorders.

I appreciate that many people with mental illness are told they are using it as an "excuse" for "bad behavior," and I would never want to do that to another person with a mental illness.
But seriously. Politicians aren't exactly known for their honesty. What they are known for is managing public perception and entering treatment does just that. True, a father of 3 working in a normal job in a normal life would only get treatment if he were in crisis, but a politician would strangle a cat at the blink of an eye if they thought it would get them one extra vote.
(Yes, I'm jaded about politicians. Shoot me.)
And the issue here, in my opinion, is a heck of a lot less about addiction and a heck of a lot more than middle America "values." I don't believe in the nonsense that he's "bad" or somehow a compromised person just because he sent stupid tweets. People insist on judging him for this and so he insists on publicly handling it to assuage their judgement. It's a big game Americans play. It makes them feel better to judge others when more than 50% of them are already cheating on their partners.
Sheesh.
Addiction is a heck of a lot more than sending a few pictures over the internet and cheating on your spouse. If that were the definition, the entire world would be addicted.
[This is not to say the guy isn't actually an addict. I wouldn't know. The point is with the information we have is not really evidence either way.]
- Natasha

@Natasha wrote: "Politicians aren’t exactly known for their honesty. What they are known for is managing public perception and entering treatment does just that."
I don't see the honesty connection. I mean, it's already been clearly established that Weiner's been rather DIShonest. No one is suggesting he's a straight-shooter. So I'm not clear on what that has to do with his choice to enter treatment. Because while I agree that politicians, like many famous people, pay healthy salaries to entire firms just to manage public perception, entering treatment for sexual addiction isn't doing him any favors. And I seriously doubt any image consultant worth their salt would expect it to. When celebrities enter treatment for any addiction, public perception is not, 'Oh good for him. Look how humble he is. What a guy.' It's, 'Jesus Christ. Another low-life jerk gets caught acting a fool and it's boohoo I'm an addict guys!'
No. Entering treatment is not a viable way to manage public perception. Because public perception is reflected right here in this post, and it's comments. And all over the internet. The uproar is consistently, "He's just making excuses for bad behavior! What a politician! What a jerk! What an American!"
And as far as I can tell, that's where the stigma comes from. Not some dude's decision, well-informed or not, to enter treatment for sex addiction.

Kendra, I have to disagree with you on this one.
You can't choose which "addictions" you support and those you don't.
If someone engages in a behavior compulsively to their detriment, despite risks to self, their family, society and their job, we have to question motive and decision making. If they find themselves unable to stop, get a "high", build tolerance, spend excessive time doing the activity, or feel like they need the activity in order to achieve a release, something is wrong.
I felt so bad for Weiner and his family for the media treatment, because his behavior was clearly not normal (sending so many pictures to strangers, not to a girlfriend). The media had a field day trashing him for the salacious nature of the story and forgot that he was human.
Confront anyone with a compulsive behavior and they will deny it to high heaven. He just did it on a national stage.
No Kendra, we don't get to pick the diseases. We do get to encourage the media improve their behavior, stop create cute little words called "sexting" and perhaps instead turn their attention to real treatment that works.

Kendra,
Perhaps I didn't clarify. I listened to your video. In the video you admit that you don't know what's going on. That's the best anyone can do. However you wrote:
"when I hear about another politician seeking professional help to excuse his bad behavior it makes me frustrated and annoyed....I of course cannot diagnose people, and would leave that to the professionals, but most psychologists will agree that one or two affairs doesn’t make a person a sex addict, that a sex addict has an inability to stop, has a need for fulfillment, and it affects their work, their family and disregards consequences."
I love your thought process, but his behavior was much more than one or two. We may never know.
Another point, when we put people on pedestals like we do our politicians(for some odd reason), they have no where to go but down. We know this kind of stuff goes on, we just think that they are all Mr. Smith's who went to Washington.
If we are swayed by what the media and late night comedians say about illnesses, then we'd see that alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling, eating disorders and a whole host of problems are all being trivialized. Depression is getting a step up because of the "happy" commercials on television.
When someone messes up and says they want help, yes, a lot of times (paris hilton, lindsay lohan) it is a ploy. This isn't. They have serious issues and it gets trivialized. Charlie Sheen seems to have serious issues of some type and people exploited him. This is more than bad behavior. For people who have control, they can judge. If someone has a secret life, it begs the question why?
Oh, btw, I just think Paris Hilton is spoiled.
Keep up the good work Kendra.