The hidden addictions of fame: when success simply isn’t enough anymore

It’s important to start by saying that addiction isn’t straightforward or a simple fix. Addiction doesn’t always look like rock bottom or the celeb in rehab cliché we’re fed by the media either.

Sometimes, it looks like working non-stop for long periods. It looks like that nightly beer, glass of wine or vodka that’s becoming a bottle. It looks like endless scrolling, a shopping fixation, sex, or substance abuse just to quiet the noise inside your head. And if you’re in the public eye? That pressure, that pace, that need to keep up appearances can drive your addiction to a dangerous place.

Addiction is rife in celebrity culture. And not because celebrities are weak, reckless, or “troubled”, but because fame breeds emotional disconnection. And disconnection is exactly what addiction feeds on.

Fame amplifies everything. Your success. Your scrutiny. Your loneliness. Your fears.

From the outside, you’ve “made it.” But on the inside? You’re often under enormous pressure to be perfect, to keep producing magic, and to meet impossible expectations and deadlines. And with that often comes performance anxiety, imposter syndrome, emotional burnout, and a deep, chronic sense of emptiness.

So you turn to something to take the edge off. To feel a little calmer. To feel anything. That’s how addiction starts. Not because you’re chasing a high, but because you’re likely running from pain.

The addictions nobody really talks about

When people hear “addiction,” they tend to immediately think drugs or alcohol. But in my therapy room, I’ve seen it take many forms, especially for people in the spotlight:

• Alcohol: The socially acceptable sedative. Easy to hide behind red carpets and VIP lounges.

• Prescription medication: For anxiety, sleep, performance. Normalised. Dangerous.

• Work: The most glamorous addiction of all. Always productive, not always fulfilling..

• Shopping & spending: Numbing via luxury. Temporary dopamine hit and high.

• Social media validation: Dopamine-driven. Obsessive. Hollow.

• Sex and relationships: Not about connection, but distraction. Quick hits of attention and often physical satisfaction without emotional connection. It’s what rock stars do right?

• Disordered eating: Control disguised as discipline. Especially common in image-driven industries where the ideal body is table stakes for success. Think social perfection on every Insta-tile where you need to tell the world you’re living your best life.

If you’re using anything to escape your feelings, cope with pressure, or manage your image, and more importantly, you can’t stop, that’s addiction. Whether or not it looks messy from the outside.

What drives addiction?

Addiction is always trying to solve something. It’s not about the substance or behaviour - it’s about the pain underneath.

• You feel like you’re not enough, so you overwork.

• You feel anxious or unsafe, so you drink or use.

• You feel empty, so you chase pleasure, praise, or chaos.

In the celebrity world, your identity is often wrapped around your performance. But who are you when you’re not on? Not relevant? Not adored?

That identity crisis can trigger deep shame. And addiction, for a while, feels like a solution. But eventually, it becomes the problem.

How to recognise if you have a problem

Here are the questions I ask my clients behind closed doors:

• Is this thing something I choose, or something I need?

• Do I feel worse when I don’t have it?

• Is it starting to affect my relationships, work, or self-respect?

• Have I tried to stop and failed?

• Am I hiding it (even from myself)?

If you’re nodding or feeling defensive, that’s your answer. Denial is loud when the truth is close.

Because addiction steals your life.

It steals your peace. Your presence. Your potential. It promises control but gives you chains.

And no, you don’t need to hit “rock bottom” to do something about it. That’s a myth. The best time to get help is before it wrecks everything. Before you lose the things that really matter to you - your health, your mind, your family and friends, your relationships, your sense of self.

How therapy can help all types of addiction

Addiction isn’t just about stopping something. It’s about understanding it. And healing the stuff that drove you there in the first place.

Therapy gives you:

• A safe, private space to be brutally honest without shame

• Tools to manage cravings, triggers and self-sabotage

• Insight into the emotional patterns that keep you stuck

• A chance to rebuild a life that doesn’t need numbing

You don’t just get “clean”, you also get clear. I don’t care about your PR strategy. I care about you the person behind the profile. So, if you’re using something to avoid your feelings, to keep the mask on, to make it through the day, you don’t need to be shamed.

If you’ve got an addiction, you’re not a bad person. You’re a hurting person. You’re a successful, high-functioning, smart-as-hell person who’s struggling in private. And I get that. I’ve worked with very successful celebrities, actors, musicians — people who “should” be happy but aren’t. People who can’t stop. People who feel ashamed of needing help for their addictions.

Addiction thrives in silence, secrecy, and shame. That’s why you’ve got to bring it into the light. Not publicly. Not performatively. But privately, honestly, with someone who gets it. If this hits home, reach out. Let’s talk. No judgement. Just real, grounded support to help you reclaim your life — before it costs you more than it already has.

You can change this. You just have to take the first step. You are not your addiction. But you are responsible for facing it for both yourself and those who matter to you. And you don’t have to face it alone.

This won’t be fixed overnight. But it can be fixed. You can come out of this stronger, clearer, and more grounded than you’ve ever been.

I’ve walked this road with people who’ve been front page news for all the wrong reasons. And I’ve seen them get free - not just sober, but well.

Claire Evans works with many celebrities who have managed to successfully work through addiction to a variety of behaviours and substances. If you would be interested in a one-on-one session to discuss your feelings with a professional who understands your world, contact Claire today for a confidential informal chat.

Do it right now, if you are struggling today - I’m here to help you feel better.

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