Celebrity Mental Health: The Pipeline

Trigger warning: This article discusses child exploitation, eating disorders, suicide, and addiction.

The “toddler-to-trainwreck” pipeline is the term for a phenomenon in the entertainment industry where children are pressured to take on adult responsibilities while denying them the care to gain the emotional maturity necessary to do so. This ultimately leads to mental illness and a child struggling with addiction.

They are forced to run ragged with long hours and few breaks. They must neglect their schooling and friends. Meanwhile, their brains are not fully developing properly. 

The stress and trauma of growing up in the entertainment industry often manifest in mental illnesses and destructive behavior. Children with lots of money and little guidance tend to act out. They make the mistakes of typical children and teens, only they have the public eye on them.

Rather than looking at the way the entertainment industry causes this outcome, society points the finger at the performers. They are labeled as unmanageable, unprofessional, and undesirable. In reality, the child actor stories display an insidious pattern.

The pressures of celebrity are too much for most, especially children.

Alyson Stoner's 2021 Op-Ed

In April of 2021, former actor and dancer Alyson Stoner wrote a brutally honest op-ed for People Magazine titled “The Toddler to Trainwreck Industrial Complex.” It called out the exploitative and mentally damaging practices of the entertainment business. Interweaving her own experiences, she points out the ways the system sets child actors up to fail.

Stoner made her acting debut at age six. At nine, she landed her first major role with Disney. One year later, she skyrocketed to fame with Cheaper by the Dozen. She also appeared in many music videos, showcasing her dance skills. 

With back-to-back productions, Stoner felt immense pressure. Her schedule estranged her from her siblings. She pushed herself to constantly learn new skills, believing she was never good enough. She began scripting every phone call, conversation, and moment of her life. She only knew how to be “on," never learning to be authentic.

As a result of her young age, she internalized the trauma of acting in very adult scenes. Her op-ed piece details auditioning for a kidnapping and sexual assault scene, after which she went catatonic, unable to distinguish between reality and fiction. This is natural for a young child with no concept of abstract thinking—a skill that does not develop until about age 14.

Due to her full schedule, she seldom had time to eat. She skipped meals constantly, and eventually developed a severe eating disorder. Regulating what she ate become her way to find control in a world where she had none. When she finally sought treatment, against the recommendation of her team, she was 20 pounds underweight and severely malnourished.

Eating Disorders

Child stars frequently experience eating disorders. They start performing at such a young age. Their roles are often so public facing that changes through puberty are highlighted and criticized. They lose desirability as they start to look older. To keep working, they are pigeonholed into being as skinny and small as possible. 

Though Alyson Stoner is one of the most vocal in the bunch, many other child stars have discussed this issue. Hillary Duff, Christina Ricci, Mary-Kate Olsen, Aaron Carter, and Zoe Kravitz all speak openly about their experiences with eating disorders. The industry held them to unreasonable standards of beauty; they compensated by developing dangerous mental illnesses.

Drew Barrymore Criticisms

Another major critic of the child actor business is Drew Barrymore. On her talk show, she interviewed many now-grown child actors. Though she does not regret her time as a child actor, she does speak out about the dangers of the industry.

Drew Barrymore, a prominent actor and businesswoman, first acted at 11 months old in a Huggies commercial. She became a frequent face in advertisements. Her film debut occurred at five years old in Altered States. Two years later, she rose to fame after starring in E.T.

At the age of eight, Barrymore's mother introduced her to drugs. They started partying five times a week. Barrymore got drunk for the first time at nine years old. By the time she was 12, she did her first stint in rehab. At 13, her mother institutionalized Barrymore for a year and a half for a polysubstance addiction. After a suicide attempt at age 14, Barrymore emancipated herself. Though she never went back to drugs, she started drinking again socially. 

Barrymore spent her 20s behaving erratically. She wanted to rid herself of her childhood image and reputation, so she leaned into hypersexualization. The industry painted her as an uncontrollable addict who was too risky to work with. Eventually, she realized this was not the image she wanted either, so she changed her life.

She built her own production company, starring in many films and television shows. Still, her alcoholism persisted. After 36 years, she made the brave decision to seek sobriety. As of 2019, she is fully in recovery.

Fame and Substance Use Disorders

Barrymore's early introduction to substances is not an isolated incident. Many child stars like Nick Stahl, Rivkah Reyes, and Demi Lovato all developed substance use disorders before age 18. Some are in recovery; others still battle relapses. Either way, their lives are irreparably changed.

For child stars, substance use can start as a coping mechanism for unbelievable pressure and stress. They self-medicate due to the expectations of the industry and to escape the constant criticism. Eventually, they fall prey to the toddler-to-trainwreck pipeline. Their image is ruined, and they are painted as another starlet gone wrong.

DetoxNearMe.com Helps You Find A Way Out

When a child is constantly in the public eye, they often feel immense pressure to appear perfect. They sometimes carry the financial burden of their family. They are expected to fulfill adult responsibilities far too young and never get the chance to simply exist as kids.

The weight often becomes too much, and many develop mental illnesses along with substance addictions. If you experienced childhood adultification, you may relate to these experiences. These experiences may be driving your substance issues.

DetoxNearMe.com offers you a way out. With our directory, you’ll be able to find a reputable, effective detox center for your needs, budget, and history. Alcohol and drug detox is the first step towards – and the foundation of – a lasting recovery. We’ll even help you follow up your detox care at a drug rehab or addiction center.

Don’t let your past hold you back. Start your journey towards a happier life with DetoxNearMe.com today.