Slash On Aging & Sobriety
- Rock legend Slash, former lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses, is celebrating his 60th birthday about 25 years after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, which followed years of alcohol and drugs abuse.
- Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens the heart muscle, as per the National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which explains makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood. Despite this diagnosis, Slash changed his life around through lifestyle changes and implantation of a defibrillator.
- If you struggle with self-perception and body image, you should try to look at yourself in a positive light despite how difficult it may be. By practicing body positivity, you can boost your emotional well-being.
- And if substance abuse or addiction is something your dealing with, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline, which can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is “a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Slash offered some insight on what it’s like becoming a sexagenarian, stressing the importance of doing what he loves and playing music. He said, “Well, you can be any age and play music. Music is something that you should do until you are pushing up daisies. But then, I just feel lucky to be here, I got a letter the other day from my tour manager, detailing one of the times I died back in 2001.
Read MoreRecalling how he endured heart failure 25 years ago, Slash shared a short story, further emphasizing his gratitude toward life, saying, “I got a letter the other day from my tour manager, detailing one of the times I died back in 2001..
“So I’m just really fortunate and think getting older is an accomplishment … people complaining about their age should rethink.”
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The heart issue he was talking about is cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart muscle, as per the National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). “This makes it harder for your heart to pump blood. The word ‘cardiomyopathy’ means ‘heart muscle disease,’ the institute explains.
The NHLBI advises, “Cardiomyopathy treatments include medicines, procedures, healthy lifestyle changes, implanted devices, and therapy to lower stress. Treatments may not fix the problem with your heart, but they may lower symptoms, prevent the disease from getting worse, and reduce the chance of sudden death. Talk with your provider to set up a treatment plan to improve your quality of life.”
Slash, who joined Guns N’ Roses in 1985 and has been sober for nearly 20 years, also admitted to “hardcore partying” as he rose to stardom.
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He said, “But nobody ever spoke about what happens when the tour stops, and the adrenaline ends. Because I didn’t have a real life before this. I was a kid, then I got into a band. So when I had a break, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to go out and be recognized. That’s not my thing.
“But instead, I ended up doing lots of drugs … alienating drugs where you are just a loner. I did that for years and, so, finally, I got sober. And then just jumped into spending all my time doing music. It speaks to me in a positive way.”
Slash is now on the “Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things” Tour and living it up with his band across Europe and Asia.
If you’re struggling with substance abuse or addiction, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline, which can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is “a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
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Slash’s Struggle With Cardiomyopathy
In an earlier interview, opening up about what led him to become sober in 2006, Slash said, I just really got to a point where I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I mean, God knows I probably have my fair share of psychological misadventures, but I got into booze and drugs mostly just to kill time. I mean, it starts out for fun, and then you use it in between shows, after a show, before the next show, that kind of thing.
“And especially I’d really fall in hard when the tour was over and we were off the road. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. So that’s just something that before you know it, you’ve got a real physical, and as it happens, psychological addiction going on.”
Slash was reportedly diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2001 and told he’d only have weeks to live. However, lifestyle changes and a implantation of a defibrillator, changed his fate.
As for what led him to get sober, he previously told Yahoo! Entertainment, “I came to that decision when I had an ample supply of [drugs] sitting in front of me, and I had a date that I was going to put myself into rehab. I just did what [drugs] I did until that date came, and checked into rehab. And haven’t done it since. And I haven’t really had the desire to do it. I haven’t been struggling with craving it, which is great.
“I had two kids, and I didn’t want their earliest memories of me to be this burned-out drug addict. [Music] really was my driver, and I think it was really wanting to be able to put all my effort and time [in that instead]. … I just wanted to get to music and get back to work.”
Understanding Aging & Self Acceptance
We’re glad to see Slash embracing aging with such a positive mindset—especially given the health challenges he’s faced over the years. We often hear phrases like “age is just a number,” but what does that really mean? And how does our attitude toward aging affect our overall health and well-being?
From the moment we’re born, both our bodies and minds begin to develop and transform. This ongoing transformation is essentially what we refer to as aging. Life is a constant flow of change, and aging plays a vital role in that experience. While conversations about aging often center on physical shifts, it’s equally about how we grow emotionally and mentally over time.
SurvivorNet has provided an overview of aging to guide you through this universal process.
Some key points to remember about aging:
- Aging is a natural biological process that affects everyone.
- The experience of aging can vary greatly among individuals.
- While aging comes with some inevitable changes, many aspects of aging are influenced by lifestyle choices and attitudes.
- Aging isn’t something to fear or shy away from—it’s a phase of life that we all share.
If you find it challenging to feel good about your appearance, try to shift your perspective and see yourself more kindly—even if it’s not easy. Embracing body positivity can have a powerful impact on your emotional health and overall well-being.
Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, also has some helpful advice. She encourages people that spending time in front of the mirror can help with body image.
Although “research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with,” which can cause “a negative self-view and lower self-esteem,” it’s important to look at the parts of your body that you love and the parts of your body that you don’t.
Eventually, Dr. Strongin says, doing so can help you create a more accepting relationship with yourself.
“Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and how you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” she said. “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.”
It’s essential to recognize that beauty has no single definition. After facing a health crisis, individuals should focus on appreciating both their inner strength and the progress they’ve made—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Healthy Aging Tips
Healthy aging isn’t just about accomplishing medical check-ups or managing illnesses. It’s also about maintaining a high quality of life as you age, keeping your body and mind as robust as possible, and living life to the fullest. SurvivorNet has put together some tips that can help you age healthily:
Physical Activity: Try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise into your daily routine. This could be walking, cycling, swimming—any physical activity you enjoy!
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Nutrition: Eat a balanced diet heavy on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Limiting processed foods, sugars and unhealthy fats can make a big difference in your overall health.
Social Engagement: Stay socially active. Whether it’s attending family gatherings, participating in group hobbies, volunteering, or just catching up with friends, maintaining social connections can significantly enhance your emotional health and well-being.
Mental Stimulation: Engage in activities that stimulate your mind. This could include reading, doing puzzles, learning a new skill or language, or even playing memory-boosting games.
Regular Check-ups: Don’t forget about your regular medical, dental, and eye check-ups. Prevention is always better than cure!
Sleep: Good sleep is vital for your overall health. Practice good sleep hygiene – keep a regular sleep schedule, make your sleeping environment comfortable and quiet, and try to avoid screens before bed.
Remember, consistency is the key. Building these habits and making them part of your daily routine can potentially slow down the aging process and improve your overall well-being.
Even small steps can have a significant impact, so it’s never too late to start. After all, aging is just another word for living. And our aim should not be to just live longer, but to live healthier and happier.
Alcoholism Is a Disease
It’s understandable Slash underwent some arduous times in his life, which reminds us of when we previously spoke with news anchor Elizabeth Vargas, on her previous struggle with alcoholism and anxiety.
She compared alcoholism recovery to battling cancer, as both should be looked at in a similar light, however, both issues are viewed completely different.
Vargas previously told SurvivorNet that she recounted a nurse telling her, “She’d rather have a recurrence of breast cancer over a relapse with alcohol because when you have breast cancer, everybody shows up.” However, “With addiction,” Vargas explains, “everybody runs away. We need to change. It’s hard. But we do need to change that.”
She continued, “Relapse is part of recovery. If getting sober or getting clean from a substance was that easy, we wouldn’t have the issue of addiction in this country. People relapse because it’s hard. It’s really hard. And I think all too often, families, companies, corporations, friends, and colleagues are too fast to say, you relapsed, you’re out, you’re done.
“We don’t tell somebody who has cancer when the cancer comes back, oh, sorry, no more chemo. But many companies, many families say, no more treatment. You relapsed. You’re hopeless. You don’t want to get better. You won’t try hard enough. And that’s the kind of thinking I think we need to change.
“And that’s why there’s so much stigma around the disease of substance use disorder,” she added.
Vargas, who is now sober, also admitted that although she loves her two sons very much and would “die for them,” she understands all too well that alcoholism is so “powerful” and hard to combat that she “couldn’t stop drinking for them” prior to looking for help.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
- Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
- When should I seek other interventions if I’m still struggling?
- How can seeking these connections help me in my day-to-day life?
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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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