While on stage at Clive Davis‘s annual pre-Grammys party earlier this month, award-winning singer Tony Bennett noted that legalizing drugs would reduce the desire to use drugs.

Bennett has had his fair share of drug-related experiences. He struggled with a cocaine habit in the Seventies, and like the rest of us, has watched extremely talented people like Amy Winehouse (whose last known recording was with Bennett) and Whitney Houston (for whom the pre-Grammys show became a memorial) crumble under addiction.

Later, while backstage at the Grammys, Bennett told Rolling Stone he sticks by his comment, stating drug legalization would:

[...] get rid of all the gangsters that make people hide. One thing I’ve learned about young people, when you say ‘Don’t do this,’ that’s the one thing they’re going to try and do. Once it’s legal and everybody can do it, there is no longer the desire to do something that nobody else can do.

Of course, Bennett’s idea isn’t new, by any means. Lots of people – yes, even those who don’t use drugs – feel drug legalization in America is the way to go.

As you can tell from the title, I’ve done this sort of post once or twice!

Not too long ago, Nicole Polizzi, a.k.a Snooki of Jersey Shore, tweeted a picture of herself without makeup. Naturally, the picture sparked a lot of interested because, you know, Snooki’s kind of known for wild hair and lots of makeup.

Among other things.

Anyway, people seemed to really like Fresh-Faced Snooki and maybe-or-maybe-not in response to the positive feedback, omg! Yahoo! published Celebs Unmasked, a quick slideshow of several celebrities without makeup including Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson (not buyin’ it), Katy Perry (totally buyin’ it), and Nicole Scherzinger (The Pussycat Dolls).

So ladies, I’ve asked before and I’m asking again:

How does seeing celebs without makeup make YOU feel? Does it have any impact at all on your own makeup-less self-confidence? Or could you not care less?

Image Credit: Nicole Polizzi via Twitter

I’ve never been addicted to alcohol or drugs, so I can’t speak from that level of personal experience.

However, I’ve had enough addicts in my life to know that once an addict is in recovery, he has a lot of newfound “free” time on his hands – time that used to be spent drinking or using drugs, and time which must now be spent…

…doing what?

How does an addict fill the void that drugs and alcohol used to fill?

That’s exactly the question The Fix answers in How Ten People Found New Passion in Sobriety.

From taking existing skills and turning them into a new career to becoming a mentor for others who want to get their lives together, this slideshow/article highlights 10 individuals, including animal rights activist Jane Valez-Mitchell, who found new passions or were finally able to act on existing passions once they sobered up.

It’s pretty inspiring read, and one that I’m willing to bet can motivate even folks who aren’t battling addiction.

How about YOU, readers? Have any of you battled alcoholism or drug addiction, and had to fill the void left behind when you stopped drinking or using? What did you do?

Image Credit: ARTIVIST.com per these Creative Commons License attributions.

Happy New Year Celebrity Psychings readers!

Celebrity Psychings and I are taking the day off for New Year’s, but we’ll return Wednesday ready to roll on into 2012.

If you’re like a gabazillion other people across the globe (or, maybe just America – not sure how into this kind of torment other countries are), chances are you’ve said or though at least one of the following statements at some point in the last few days:

1. “In 2012, I’m going to [lose weight/start exercising/quit smoking/get organized/dye my hair blue]!”
2. “New Year’s resolutions? Um, no. Not into that.”

Regardless of how you feel about making New Year’s resolutions, spend a few minutes this weekend checking out Psych Central’s New Year’s Guide.

This collection of New Year’s posts throughout the site covers:

• The psychology behind why we make resolutions.
• How we can make meaningful goals – and stick to them.
• Changes that we can make TODAY.
• How to make resolutions feel less like chores.
• Considering deeper resolutions that help you deal with life’s challenges.

Are YOU making any resolutions for 2012? If so, what are they? If not, what’s your reason for not making them?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Celebrity Psychings readers!

Celebrity Psychings and I are taking the day off for a Christmas break, but we’ll return Wednesday with some year-end deliciousness before we kick off 2012.

Just a quick post to thank everyone who stopped by the Celebrity Psychings Celebrates 3 Years: Contest Time! post over the past week and congratulated me on the milestone, entered the contest, or both!

After the comments closed at 11:59 p.m. last night, I randomly selected the winner by drawing from a hat and am pleased to announce that Sylvia Nigro will be the recipient of a brand new Silver Ribbon Pin from NARSAD Artworks!

Congratulations to Sylvia, and once again thanks to everyone who stopped by!

UPDATE: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, 2011: The entry period is over and comments are closed. Thanks for entering and/or stopping by!

This week, Celebrity Psychings celebrates three years as part of the Psych Central blogging network…

…WOOHOO!

It’s been an interesting ride, one that’s been both smooth and bumpy, and I think we’ve all – readers and this writer included – learned something along the way.

One thing I’m especially happy to say is that Celebrity Pyschings has remained true to its original intent: From providing suicide warning signs and covering mental illness in popular culture back during its first month (December 2008!) to helping you cope with privacy invasion and fostering conversations about artists with mental health hurdles last month, Celebrity Psychings has been a blog about helping people better understand the kinds of mental health issues humans – celebrities and Everyday Joes alike – deal with on a daily basis.

To celebrate the ol’ gal’s birthday, I’d like to give YOU something.

Well, the chance to win something, that is!

Here in America, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, the holiday during which we – you guessed it – give thanks.

There’s a whole bunch of other stuff mixed in there like safely landing in the New World and Pilgrims and Native Americans and harvests and Abraham Lincoln making it official in 1863, but this isn’t a history blog, okay?

It’s a mental health blog.

As such, I thought it’d be beneficial to post some information about dealing with stress during the holidays, because, let’s face it – the holidays can get pretty freaking stressful, for different reasons for different people:

• Strained family relationships.
• Loneliness or missing loved ones.
• Striving to make sure everything is perfect.
• Juggling everyday activities like work with major holiday preparations like cleaning and cooking.
• Negative associations with family gatherings or holiday celebrations.

Yep, sounds like there’s potential for stress there, to me.

Today (Thursday, October 6, 2011) is National Depression Screening Day here in America, and one of our favorite athletes-turned-advocate, Gregory Montgomery is encouraging everyone to get checked.

Montgomery’s work has spanned collaborating with mental health nonprofits like everyminute.org to filming documentaries with the NFL to speaking at various public venues about his own battles with mental illness.

Now, the former All-Pro NFL punter is working with Screening for Mental Health (SMH) to make sure those in need know mental illness is treatable and manageable:

I’ve found the strength to navigate through bipolar disorder’s gauntlet. I’ve learned that it’s not a death sentence, but actually a gift. Simply a race car that needs to be learned to be driven. (SMH)