In the old days, actresses were hospitalized for "exhaustion" when they were, in fact, undergoing illegal abortions (M-G-M and Fox shared the services of a physician who treated this euphemism on a regular basis).

These days, "exhaustion" is probably code for booze and drug problems. Maybe not in Chappelle's case--but who knows? I sure as hell don't.

I suspect that some people who cry "exhaustion" could also be looking for a few days off somewhere where they don't have to be "on" all the time.

Think about it. If you couldn't go anywhere and be on our own, if you always had to look good because the cameras are everywhere, what would you do?

Thankfully, that will never be my problem, and a good thing, too, because I'd go nuts. If it were, I wouldn't cry exhaustion, I think I'd howl "break time" and hide out in a spa somewhere.

"treated this euphemism"

Sorry to ignore your substantive point, but I am the editor after all...

Good phrase.

Not to mention that for probably most of us when we feel exhausted we do not have medical insurance or the cash to be admitted to the hospital to rest from our exhaustion in a medical setting. We just have to unplug the phone and nap on the couch.

And I agree that "treated this euphemism" is a great line.

Having watched an episode of that Paula Abdul show, I can sort of see that the frenzy celebrities work themselves up into (with the prodding of their agents, media, etc) could lead to exhaustion. It's like "must do three talk shows today, must fly from New York to LA, must start own clothing line, must stay in public eye, must work work work to pay my bazillion assistants I need to keep track of my meetings and appearances, who knows where my next role/record deal/reality show is coming from, if at all, must constantly remind producers/directors/etc that I exist or I will never work again in this town!!!!"

Unless you've reached such status that you just wait for the scripts to come to you, I assume you do get on this crazy treadmill of constant self-promotion, then needing assistants, then not being able to function without said assistants, then having to work more appearances to pay said assistants/agents/expensive hair stylists so E! doesn't make fun of you, or whatever. It all looks stupid and exhausting and depressing, but you can see how people get caught up in it -- and then realize they are a needy, self-absorbed, insecure mess because they feel they have to please everyone.

I strongly suspect that simple dehydration is a common cause of "exhaustion". Hot lights, vocal gymnastics, dance, long hours and air travel, not to mention the pressures to stay thin -- this all adds up to dehydration. Fainting and heat prostration, if not actual heat stroke, could be the result. Even heart attack, given the blood thickening that happens to dehydration victims.

I've been hospitalized for dehydration twice, and it can take a week or two to recover your strength, which is about what I often see from Hollywood. It's a pretty shattering experience, too.

I spoke with an audio engineer who traveled with various celebs, including a couple who did one-man tours. He was amazed they can survive, given the efforts they put forth at each show. When he asked one how she did it, she said "Carb loading and weight training", and she was serious. Entertaining is really hard work!

Oh Pleaze-- I feel no pity for these pampered people. Hydration and travel my butt, yell over a jack hammer 12 hours a day for "vocal strain" or operate on for dancing fatigue.

Go work in an underground coal mine a day, on a fishing boat in the Bering sea, replace a roof with storms coming, All are dangerous jobs with emminent death if you make a mistake, unlike tripping over a stage monitor.

You whiners are sickening-- the people that do the dirty jobs make average $50K at most, minimal benefits. You get that much for staggering off the tour bus. gimme a break

In reading the responses i am in awe of how the point was missed because the focus was on individuals out of Hollywood. It is referencing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in one instance which is very real, I HAVE IT as well as fibromyalgia. Please don't tell me that a day at the spa will help, that thinking a different way will make it better.....it is physical, it is neurological, it is devastating not only to your health universally, to your social interactions, financial well being to name a few. I have a very strong work ethic, i am a type A personality, i am an overachiever, i am intelligent{i have 2 Masters and was working toward a PHD. I am disheartened and angry that there continues to be the misinterpretation of what is involved. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, i went from being a active, social, involved person to being barely able to make my bed somedays, that is when i am able to physically move, that can't remember words, get confused, have no energy despite rest amongst other "fun" aspects. It is sad. I didn't understand it until i am living it. Stop, think, read and ask before you make a judgement call please.

Hi, I've been a physician for 21 years and was also hospitalized briefly once for dehydration after finishing a marathon. I never once used or saw or heard of any other physician using exhaustion as a diagnosis. I have on several occasions treated myself, or heard of, celebs and/or their handlers using that diagnosis informally themselves to protect their privacy when in reality they had other medical, (or more commonly) psychiatric disorder(including substance abuse/dependence disorders).

Perhaps exhaustion is used by hospitals still using the ICDM codes to fudge, but exhaustion alone is not a legitimate reason for admission; think about it: if it was only exhaustion, the prescription would be to cancel everything and go home and get some sleep, with pharmalogical aids if necessary. If "exhaustion" is used as a diagnosis, more likely it is a symptom as part of another disorder as above. When I had dehydration, that was the diagnosis used. I'm not a celebrity, of course but again, think about it; If it was simply dehydration, it is unlikely that the celeb or publicist wouldn't disclose that; more likely, as in the cases I saw, a medical/psychiatric disorder is present which they prefer to keep private.

On the other hand, there also may be cases where celebs can afford to pay their full hospital bill in cash, and hospitals may "look the other way" and admit the celeb unnecessarily with this diagonsis. This is lucrative for the hospital since they get paid in full at a higher rate than insurance companies will pay, without the hassle of haggling with the insurers, and with positive publicity for treating the celeb. And for the celebs, it may save face for them to "medicalize" their exhaustion so that they aren't blamed for having to back out of prior commitments, when in reality, they simply overextended themselves.

If it's to protect confidentiality, I don't have a big problem with it, as they deserve that as much as anyone else and likely have a much harder time maintaining it. Believe me, there are many unethical hospital employees who wouldn't think twice about leaking the information anonymously, even though this is illegal. Having said that, I don't think the celebs are really fooling anybody.

If it's the latter case where they are just saving face, both the hospital and the celeb are being unethical, and perpetuating character flaws as well as systemic flaws in the entertainment world; but they are unlikely to be confronted as it's a win-win situation for both.

I would like to clarify this artical's presentation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as more than mere tiredness, chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), brings with it a constellation of debilitating symptoms.

CFIDS is characterized by incapacitating fatigue (experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina) and problems with concentration and short-term memory. It is also accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as pain in the joints and muscles, unrefreshing sleep, tender lymph nodes, sore throat and headache. A distinctive characteristic of the illness is post-exertional malaise, a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion occurring within 12-48 hours of the exertion and requiring an extended recovery period.

The symptoms of CFIDS are highly variable and fluctuate in severity, complicating treatment and the ill person’s ability to cope with the illness. Most symptoms are invisible, which makes it difficult for others to understand the vast array of debilitating symptoms with which people with the illness must contend. The CDC has spend millions on an ad campaign to raise awareness of this proven biological syndrome. CFS is as real and debilitating as any other chronic illness.

I speak from experience as after contracting lyme disease in 2004, I could never get better, after seeing an infectious disease specialist I was diagnosed with CFS. The lyme infection threw my body systems in confused disarray. I worked at one time, was highly socialable as well as working out everyday. I was not a type A personality, not depressed or lazy. Any infection can trigger this syndrome.

I do not want anyone to confuse being 'burnt out' to CFS, one is relived by lifestyle changes and rest, CFS is here to stay, there is no treatment or cure.

For more information the most crediable web source that collaberates with the CDS is http://www.cfids.org.

There is alot of misinformation on the net. Cfids.org is the most reliable.

Hold on just a minute.. I am a speaker and theatrical narrator who delivers over 100 performance in under 3 months. Ive been doing it for over 17 years.

Ive also been on a number of movie sets and have family who are professional entertainers

I can fully attest to the fatique that occurs.

The average person who thinks of these celebs as spoiled is ignorant of many things:

--most celebs do not work 8 hour days. A movie set work day typically averages 14 hours. Now in between takes, an actor can rest, but they are not afforded the liberty of going to ones home to truly unwind, or enjoy the comforts of ones home. Hotel rooms and movie set trailers get old REAL fast.

--Try pumping your adrenaline up every day, on cue !!! You find that after a while, it can become hard to unwind, to de-stress because your body is constantly used to being on a heightened state of physical and mental arousal/alterness.

--Ever heard of jet-lag ?!?! (theres a reaason the term exists) Take a long trip across time zones and be ready to perform -NOT when you want to or are used to....but according to the time zone hour your in.

The point being is that, yeah, some celebs are spoiled brats, but many work very hard.

Performing is not easy.

....which of course raises the most curious thinking.

For those who criticize so fiercly....I guess one must ask the logical questions.....are you top notch performer and do you posess that type of million dollar skill?

Would people pay 10-20 dollars to see you act in a movie? ....give a concert?.....entertain for an hour?

Be careful not to criticize their daily grind until you walk the walk.

Enjoy your simple life. (at least you can go shopping without hounds of photographers trying to exploit your life with photos of your celulite...your love life....your kids.

Its amazing what people criticize when they dont know the real facts.

Yes, it references CFS in passing, saying that this is one type of exhaustion, and linking to an article that explains that it is a real malady, that has even been seen to respond to antibiotics. So I don't think anyone is judging, and you might be really, really thin-skinned in addition to having fatigue.

"....I guess one must ask the logical questions.....are you top notch performer and do you posess that type of million dollar skill?"

Sure, just unfortunate that the market doesn't pay that rate for the type of skill.

"Enjoy your simple life. (at least you can go shopping without hounds of photographers trying to exploit your life with photos of your celulite...your love life....your kids."

Sorry, you get NO sympathy there. Just like politicians, they sign on for that, it's part of the package. The level of complaining about press exposure is ridiculous. If they want to enjoy 'the simple life' they can come down to earth with the rest of us and work numerous important-to-society jobs that aren't so glamorous or well paid. Until then, they can all stfu.

After working both in entertainment and hard labor the mental fatigue of the constant go go go, is a grind. Seems that many an entertainer dies of pneumonia, that would have stopped at a cold if they had just laid down for a few day.

Nothing to apologize for--every once in a while I get these moments of inspiration--not when they might actually do me any good, mind you . . .