Overcoming Adversity & Celebrating Milestones
- Kristen Bell is commemorating a powerful milestone in Dax Shepard’s recovery journey: 21 years of sobriety. She took to social media to mark the occasion, sharing heartfelt photos of Shepard embracing their two daughters and a sweet snapshot of the couple sharing a kiss.
- 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.
- Drinking has been shown to increase your risk of several cancers, including head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast, and colorectal, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- If you feel that you need help, please reach out to a health expert or someone else that you trust. In the meantime, SurvivorNet’s mental health guide can provide some great information and resources, along with meditation guides, to help you on your journey.
“This is what 21 years of sobriety looks like. Lots of hugging. Hugging everyone and everything. Hugging life. Thank you for getting sober, @daxshepard. I am eternally grateful to have you. We all are,” Bell, who shares two children with Shepard, wrote on Instagram this week.
Read More“Makin’ a guy cry when he can’t turn to booze?!?!
Shepard ultimately got sober in 2004, with a relapse back in 2020, something he spoke about in an earlier talk on his podcast. He admitted to struggling with alcohol and drug abuse.
If you or someone you know is dealing with addiction or substance use issues, help is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can contact their National Helpline anytime at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This free and confidential service is accessible 24/7, every day of the year, offering support and treatment referrals in both English and Spanish for individuals and families affected by mental health or substance use challenges.
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Fans praised the couple for their strong and admirable relationship in the comments, with one writing, “The way Kristen is looking at you in the 10th pic – what a wonderful love story.”
Another fan commented, “That picture is so precious !!! They all are but how she’s looking at him!!”
A third said, “Im just about 3 years no alcohol and Dax was a huge inspiration in getting here.”
“Absolutely love seeing all the love, bravery and community these comments!!!” commented a fourth.
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Bell has been by Shepard’s side through the years and even after he spoke about his relapse in 2020, she spoke about how well he’s doing and how he was changing for the better.
Speaking on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she said, “He is actually doing really great. … Everybody is up against their own demons. Sometimes it’s anxiety and depression. Sometimes it’s substance abuse.
” The thing I love most about Dax is that he was able to tell me and tell us and say, ‘We need a different plan.’ We have a plan: if he has to take medication for any reason, I have to administer it. But he was like, ‘We need a stronger plan.'”
In an earlier interview with People, Bell shared how she has also dealt with some personal struggles, including anxiety and depression.
She said, “The thing that is of the highest priority to me is sharing my personal journey. Because it provides a little bit of authenticity to who I am.
“Prior to sharing what my struggles were with anxiety and depression, I recognized that my picture publicly was this sort of bubbly actress that probably didn’t have any dark days.”
Bell credited her husband, Shepard, for supporting her in opening up about her struggles.
Dax’s Cancer Losses: Lung Cancer & Prostate Cancer
Shepard lost his father Dave Shepard to small-cell carcinoma, a type of lung cancer predominantly found in smokers and former smokers back in 2012 at age 62.
It’s important to understand that former and current heavy smokers can and should screen for lung cancer. Lung cancer treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.
In a since-deleted Tumblr post from 2013, the actor reflected on Dave Shepard’s passing, sharing how he was by his side throughout his battle with cancer. He said, “It was the only project we ever teamed up on. We never built a tree house or a soap box derby car together, but you would have never known it by watching us tear through chemo decisions and radiation plans.”
Meanwhile, Shepard’s stepfather passed from prostate cancer, and as a result, the comedian has acted as a spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF).
“Prostate cancer has tragically affected my life,” he previously said, on behalf of the organization. “My stepfather passed away from late-stage disease and since we became aware of his diagnosis, my wife and I have been doing whatever we can to support the great work the PCF is doing, and bringing awareness is the first step.”
When Should I Get Tested for Prostate Cancer?
Alcoholism Is a Disease
It’s no surprise that Dax Shepard has faced difficult periods in his life, which brings to mind our earlier conversation with news anchor Elizabeth Vargas, who openly shared her past struggles with alcoholism and anxiety.
Vargas drew a comparison between recovering from alcoholism and battling cancer, emphasizing that both should be seen in a similar light. However, she noted that society often views the two very differently.
Elizabeth Vargas On How She Took Control Of Her Addiction & Anxiety
She went on to recount how a nurse previously told 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.”
Vargas 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.”
She explained further, “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.”
Vargas, now living in sobriety, openly shared that despite her deep love for her two sons and her willingness to “die for them,” the grip of alcoholism was so strong that she couldn’t stop drinking—even for their sake—until she made the decision to seek help.
Motivation to Stop or Cut Back on Drinking – Alcohol’s Link to Cancer
There is a clear link between consuming alcohol, especially drinking it regularly over time, and an increased risk of several cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute. Those cancers include head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast and colorectal.
According to a recently published study in JAMA Network Open, people with “heavy drinking levels had an associated higher risk” of developing alcohol-related cancers “than those who did not drink.”
The study included 4.5 million participants who self-reported their drinking habits. The results concluded people who reduced their alcohol consumption lowered their risk.
Conversely, “Those with moderate or heavy drinking levels who quit drinking had a higher all cancer incidence than those who sustained their levels, but when quitting was sustained, this increase in risk disappeared.”
Excessive Alcohol Consumption Can Increase Cancer Risk
According to Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at Weill Cornell Medical Center, she said that women who drink over half a glass, or a full glass, a day of wine may experience an impact on their health, while men can drink two glasses of wine before they start seeing health effects. However, Dr. Yeo admits that data is mixed when it comes to dietary guidelines and links to cancer.
Regardless of the disease risk, steering clear of alcohol (and drugs) can improve your overall life, mental health, relationships with your family, friends, and most likely, your career as well.
If you feel that you need help, please reach out to a health expert or someone else that you trust. In the meantime, SurvivorNet’s mental health guide can provide some great information and resources, along with meditation guides, to help you on your journey.
Mental Health: The Basics
The term mental health refers to both our emotional and psychological well-being. Our mental health can affect how we think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or change in your physical health can affect mental health. It’s really important to keep tabs on your mental health and, if necessary, seek treatment. This doesn’t necessarily mean traditional therapy because while it may be really helpful (even life-changing) for some, that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.
Problems with mood and overall mental well-being can be attributed to several factors. For some people it’s genetic, while others may be experiencing a response to some sort of stressor or past trauma.
How to Fix Relationships When Depression Hits – A Survivors Guide
In order to keep your mental health in check, it’s important to be aware of signs which can be subtle that there is something affecting your mind. These signs include:
- A change in eating or sleeping habits
- Losing interest in people or usual activities
- Experiencing little or no energy
- Numb and/or hopeless feelings
- Turning to drinking or drugs more than usual
- Non-typical angry, upset, or on-edge feelings
- Yelling/fighting with loved ones
- Experiencing mood swings
- Intrusive thoughts
- Trouble getting through daily tasks
These symptoms can be wide-ranging and vary greatly from person to person. Everyone experiences grief differently, for example. However, if you are feeling unusually sad, on edge, or like you’re no longer interested in activities you used to love, know that there are many treatment options available and many different healthy ways to help you cope.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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