Mental Health Notes

Is Paris Hilton Mentally Ill?

by Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes on June 9th, 2007

I’ve sat on this Paris Hilton thing for about as long as I can now.

I can’t tolerate reckless driving of any kind – drunk or not. Nor can I tolerate celebrities who think they can do whatever they want and get away with it. I don’t care about Paris Hilton one way or the other, but when I found out she was actually going to be punished for going against her probation, I was glad – because she drove drunk, because she screwed up the “chance” (i.e. probation) the judge initially gave her, and because someone is finally taking a stand against abovementioned celebrities.

Mental Health Notes should never be substituted for medical advice. I’m not a doctor. However, I am going to voice my opinion on this modern day debutante and her “mental condition.”

I can’t hold it in any longer.

Do I think Paris Hilton has a mental health problem? Yes. Do I think her mental distraught stems from anything other than being – perhaps for the first time in her life – reprimanded for her actions? No. Do I think she’s experiencing anything more than extreme stress because she’s in jail? No.

Do I think her extreme stress and depression should affect the judge’s decision to put – and keep – her in jail? No. I’m truly glad he sent her to jail. I’m happy he called the “emergency trial” to put her back in jail after the sheriff went against his higher ups and sent her home. Part of me is even pleased that she now has to do her original 45-day sentence.

Guess what, Paris? Jail time brings stress, even to the healthiest of us. Even if you’re mental condition is a genuine illness and not just temporary, treatable stress from the culture shock of leaving your mansion and partying lifestyle behind for jail, there are services for you. Deal with it.

I’m not being unsympathetic. Stress sucks. Depression sucks. However, as far as I know California is a wealthy enough state to have mental health facilities and services for incarcerated persons. Therefore, there’s no excuse for her not to at least try to deal with it.

If she is as mentally troubled as she and her doctors claim, lessening her punishment and sending her home isn’t going to help her. She needs to understand that breaking the law brings consequences – pampered heiress or not. She’s still a human and a citizen of America and expected to abide by the law just like the rest of us.

Too, it’s my way of thinking that since “mental condition” wasn’t part of her defense when she was initially charged with a DUI-related offense, it shouldn’t be an excuse to let her off easy now.

I feel completely confident in saying that my BP wouldn’t get me out of jail after I’d already been sentenced. If she has a genuine mental illness, she should have brought that up before the clink of the bars.

Basically, all she’s doing now is saying, “I can’t take this! Let me out!”

Ironic. The night she reported to jail she was quoted as saying,

“I’m doing OK - obviously a little scared. But I’m being strong and I’m ready to face my sentence. I hope this can be an example to other young people.”

This would have been impressive had she actually been strong. Now, the example she’s setting – the message she’s setting – is, “If you don’t like being punished for your crimes, try like hell to get out of it.”

So, what do you think? Does she deserve to be in jail, or should she be let go to house arrest?

Further reading:

Hilton starts, ends week behind bars
Hilton sent back to jail in hysterics

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POSTED IN: Current Affairs & News, Everyday Stress, Sites of Interest