Taking a Long and Bumpy Road: Billy Joel's Journey with Mental Health
Billy Joel's documentary discloses two suicide attempts and a coma incident linked to an affair with a friend's spouse.
Famed musician Billy Joel, known for tunes like "Piano Man," honestly shares his battles with mental health in the documentary "Billy Joel: And So It Goes." The film, making its debut at Tribeca Festival in NYC, revisits some of the singer's rocky past, including his attempts at taking his own life following a scandalous affair with his bandmate's wife.
The Tempestuous Affair's Aftermath
In the early days of the band Attila, Joel shared a dwelling with bandmate Jon Small, Small's spouse Elizabeth Weber, and their offspring. The romantic sparks between Joel and Elizabeth fanned slowly, until Joel confessed his feelings to Small, causing their friendship and band to implode. During this tumultuous time, Joel felt remorseful about the affair and was ostracized by his former associates. The emotional chaos led to a descent into depression and substance abuse.
The Moments of Despair
- First Disaster: Joel's first shot at ending his life came about after his sister Judy Molinari gave him sleeping pills to help him rest. Sadly, he overdosed on these pills, sending him into a coma for an extended period[1][5].
- Second Shot: Details regarding a second attempt are scarce, but Joel does mention a second act of desperation[1][3].
Healing through Struggle and Music
Post-coma, Joel was hospitalized and slowly found solace in channelling his pain into music. This period of self-reflection and artistic expression gave him a means to cope and find a new path. Later on, Joel and Elizabeth married from 1973 to 1982 and reconnected after resolving their past problems[1].
Present Condition and Support
Lately, Joel has been battling a different adversity, having been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that impacts physical and mental functions. In response to this diagnosis, he has had to cancel upcoming performances and concentrate on his recovery through physical therapy[4]. Whilst grappling with his current health issue, Joel's honesty about his past struggles sheds light on mental health concerns and champions the idea of art as a means for healing.
When faced with similar struggles, resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline are at hand for aid[1]. Bioil Joel's story underscores the significance of addressing mental health and the power of art as a method for healing.
In the midst of his tumultuous past, Billy Joel's emotional chaos from his affair led to desperate acts, such as overdosing on sleeping pills in an attempt to end his life, marking one of his attempts to cope with his mental health struggles (First Disaster). As he seeks to recover from his recent diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that affects both physical and mental functions, Joel's bravery in sharing his past battles with mental health continues to shed light on mental health issues while highlighting the potential of art as a healing method. Furthermore, individuals facing similar struggles are encouraged to reach out to resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for support (Present Condition and Support).
Interestingly, the intersection of his musical career and personal life led to a turning point, with Joel finding solace and a means for coping by channelling his pain into music during his recovery period after the affair (Healing through Struggle and Music). Even in the realm of science and health-and-wellness, mental health is an essential aspect to consider, and art can offer healing for those in need.
