Hollywood and the media have really given young women the absolute wrong idea of what becoming a stripper really means. A lot of people who have never worked in the industry think it's a fast an easy way to make cash, and requires little thinking.

I've had the opportunity to work over the years with exotic dancers who have worked at Miami, Chicago and West Palm Beach Strip Clubs, and I can tell you with certainty that each of them want to get out of the business. If you're truly thinking about becoming a stripper, take into consideration the reality of the profession.

Stripping can Wear you down

Imagine going to work, night after night, and exposing your body to complete strangers. For some, this might not sound too challenging, but rude comments, and tough critiques of your looks will eventually take their toll. All too often, women enter the industry with the misguided belief that men will simply hand them money for just showing off some skin. On occasion, this does happen, but most strippers have to engage their visitors in extensive conversation, just to persuade the guy to buy a dance. I would suggest that exotic dancers are some of the best actresses in the world, and just as talented as anyone who has won an Oscar. It's simply not realistic to believe that you can converse with dozens of complete strangers each night, without experiencing some level of stress.

On some days, strippers make an incredible amount of cash, and on others, they go home with nothing. Another factor to remember is exotic dancers are forced to compete amongst many beautiful women on a nightly basis. If you think soap operas have drama, you haven't seen anything until you've worked in a strip club. Some girls are mature, friendly and sensible, but others can be downright catty and nasty. In my experience, dancers take on an incredible amount of stress, and do little to take care of everything bottled up, once they leave the club. Think about it. Police officers, firemen, and first responders who are all exposed to stressful situations all have counseling and therapy available to deal with isses. To my knowledge, there is nothing in place out there to help dancers cope with what the experience at work.

Alcoholism

Not all exotic dancers abuse alcohol, but there are plenty who do. The strip club world is really the perfect place for someone who is struggling with alcoholism to never recover. Even worse, clubs are conducive to turning a social drinker, into a full fledged alcoholic. Strippers are not required to take drinks from their customers, but it sure is a lot easier to warm a guy up when you accept his drink. Additionally, exotic dancers must cope with the same stressors that come from everyday life. Since the temptation to drink is so strong, many girls lack the behavioral skills to say no. The music, the managers, the customers, and the other girls, all act as triggers to drink. Alcoholism is basically a progressive disease. In my mind's eye, exotic dancers are conditioned to have low self esteem by the very industry they work in. Dancers often use alcohol as a coping mechanism, and an unhealthy way to self medicate. It isn't any secret that alcohol lowers inhibitions, which is why so many girls at strip clubs turn to it as a way of escape. There are many stripper blogs which address these issues.

Getting Stuck Stripping

Most strippers have big goals, and even bigger dreams. Unfortunately, the money earned from working in strip clubs becomes so alluring and addictive, many girls are unable to move on to other things. If you can imagine making $500.00 or a few thousand in just one night, you can easily see why it would be so hard to work in a different field. A common response I get from strippers is, "Why should I go to college, when I make more than most lawyers right here?"

Some girls are smart enough to use stripping as a temporary ends to a means. They work a few days a week, and take college classes to prepare for their future. Other girls are wise, and save up their money for future plans. However; far, far to many strippers do little, if anything to prepare life after they leave the club. All to often, a girl wakes up in her mid-30s, to realize she isn't making money like she used to, and has little to fall back on.

How to do it right

Exotic dancing, cocktail waitressing and bartending can be a great way to earn extra money, while accompishing goals. If you're determined to become a stripper, take a little time to make a plan with goals before you start. I would suggest giving yourself a time frame of which you are willing to work as a dancer. Take the money you earn, and invest it in yourself. Fancy clothes and a nice car will mean nothing ten years from now when your ready to settle down.

Make a contract with yourself that you will only strip for a pre-deterimined about of time. I would also advise only working a few days a week in the club; anything else will drain your soul. On your days away from the club, do things for yourself which make you happy. This can mean going to a movie with friends, enjoying time with your signifigant other, hitting the gym and of course, relaxing. I would not suggest you hang out with girls outside of the club on a regular basis. Sometimes it's easy to bring your work home with you, and your goal should be to try and separate work from your private life. Finally, anyone who is currently working, or thinking of working at a strip club should be talking to someone about their feelings and levels of anxiety, a few times a month. This can mean seeing a therapist, joining a self help group, or just talking to friends. The lines between reality, and what goes on at work can often be blurred.

Just remember that you were a sweet, loving, and attractive person before you started working as a dancer, and do things to remind you of that fact everyday. Otherwise, the industry were literally eat you up alive.

While it isn't factual to say all strippers suffer from depression, plenty of dancers do.  For a moment, imagine the two conflicting messages our culture places on young women today. On one hand, young girls are supposed to be attractive, smart, thin and beautiful.  On the other hand, women who strip are immediately dubbed as sluts, losers and whores.

Just because a woman chooses to be an exotic dancer, does not mean she looses all of those societal factors and beliefs instilled in her growing up.  All of what's of the information out there about strippers is pure myth.  Yes, it is a fact that many exotic dancers come from dysfunctional famalies and childhoods, but plenty of us who do not strip also do.  Imagine going to work each night, with a strong desire to have a boyfriend, get married, finish school, or have a family, and never being able to escape.  What baffles me is plenty of federal money out there to fund educational programs for prostitutes, sex workers and the like; but nothing for strippers. The fact is that exotic dancers need to be educated about the industry they work in, and the long term ramifications of exotic dancing.

What type of mental health issues do strippers suffer from?

According to the DSM 4 (the bible for psychologist and therapists) there are literally dozens of mental health issues which I believe strippers are susceptible to. Some of these mental health issues include:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder
• General Anxiety Disorder

There is a running joke out there that strippers are bi polar.  The truth is, bi polar disorder is a very serious mental health disease and it's often over diagnosed by therapists.  Bi-Polar disorder is a lot more than being angry one day and excited the next.  It's marked by several days of a very deep depression, followed by a period of mania (excitement). During manic times, the individual is prone to binge eating, unhealthy sexual encounters, sleep deprivation, and often drug use. During the depressive state, the individual can have suicidal ideations, low mood levels, and a lack of energy to do anything but sleep.  So be careful when calling a stripper bi-polar. 

In closing, I would like to just offer one more observation for the strip club industry. It would be wise of managers and owners to begin talking to their adult entertainers think about going to counseling and or substance abuse groups.  It's simply not realistic to believe that a woman who subjects herself to so much stress, drama, and substances, isn't going to need a way to work out pent up issues.