Amanda Bynes: A Reminder that Mental Health Woes Flourish in Our 20's?

What's really wrong with Amanda Bynes?
What's really wrong with Amanda Bynes?

In a matter of weeks, Amanda Bynes has invited Drake to murder her vagina, been arrested for allegedly hurling a bong out her window, accused New York policemen of slapping her in the cooch, announced that her mugshot has inspired her to get a nose job, called Rihanna and Courtney Love ugly, and declared herself a budding rapper. Suffice to say this is a public meltdown of Bald Britneyesque proportions.

By Michelle Ruiz

"I'd have to say, probably Lindsay Lohan or Charlie Sheen were the last time someone's name has been showing up this much," Dr. Adi Jaffe, a UCLA addiction specialist who also runs Alternatives Treatment Center in Beverly Hills, told Cosmopolitan.com. Word.

While fans of The Amanda Show and What a Girl Wants (myself included) wonder what the heck happened to that bubbly star of yore, pointing and staring via Twitter in spite of themselves, consider that Bynes, 27, is one of many twentysomethings who develop (or potentially develop, as no one really knows what is up with her right now) psychiatric issues.

Related:I Think I'd Prefer My Vagina Not Get "Murdered"

"The reality is that your brain isn't really fully developed until your early to mid-20's, so we see psychiatric issues, which originate in the brain, start creeping up during this time," Dr. Jaffe said. "Statistically, women display mental health disorders at the twice the rate that men do, while men display their substance abuse issues at twice the rate women do."

Related:Amanda Bynes Throws Bong Out Window, Gets Arrested, and Freaks Out

Though Bynes vehemently denies having a drug or alcohol addiction, it's no secret that substance abuse and mental health disorders often go hand in hand. Dr. Jaffe clearly states that he's not treating Bynes, but perceives that her alleged pot smoking could be a symptom of her mental health woes. Based on her impulsive, erratic behavior and "marked change in behavior" (an understatement to say the least), he says she may be suffering from manic episodes or borderline personality disorder.

He suggests Bynes band together with her family, identify her goals and come up with a plan for treatment. That may be tough, considering Bynes isn't owning up to those anti-Rihanna tweets-or having a problem-any time soon.

Read more at Cosmopolitan.com!

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