what is it with boybands that makes for depression, anxiety, and sometimes even substance abuse? is it the constant adrenaline rush of being up on the big stage? is it the money that is flying at them from every marketing company? is it the girls who want their bodies no matter how repulsive they are? tell me, why do these man-boys get sick in the head?

i feel for AJ, i really do. depression is not something to take lightly. i guess every teen and perhaps even starry-eyed mom out there knows about mr. mclean’s alcoholism and his consequent depression and anxiety troubles. something like this may have been predicted by the outcome of ancient boyband member, jonathan knight (NKOTB’s very own), and his anxiety problems. the thing that differs from mclean’s and knight’s ailments is that the former suffers from alcoholism, which could have been avoided.

reading the comments on katie’s page leads me to believe that a lot of people out there are ignorant to the way of the bottle. alcoholism is not a disease. a disease is inflicted through germs and viruses; alcoholism, however, is not. it can be best described as a weak man’s bad habit. it is inflicted by one’s own self and is continued by the same. over time, that person is just not of the “right stuff” anymore. but we cannot blame the bottle. it is an inanimate object, a sole device or catalyst to a self-induced habit.

so don’t cry for mr. mclean. cry for the people that his addiction has hurt, is hurting, and will hurt. all you can do for mr. mclean is hope that his mind gets stronger and that he won’t have to rely on alcohol to make all his days seem a bit brighter.