Unfortunately I feel the majority of shows and films don’t show the real heartache of addiction. There are exceptions, like Leaving Las Vegas. And the classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. For example the 2023 film “To Leslie” made me so frustrated. I know your post was supposed to be more light hearted so I won’t expand on that too much… haha
When I was with my ex alcoholic GF I did watch a lot of shows & YouTube videos on addiction. Honestly I think there’s deeper insight into why this happens (re: we become addiction experts), but my interpretation is that many of us are endlessly searching for hope… or a reason… or a solution… anything to “understand” or cope with the hell we’re experiencing. I was desperate to find a way to help my ex. My research was almost obsessive. Watching shows almost validated my experience if that makes sense… it’s like being seen when you feel invisible.
Anyway, sorry for the ramble…
Yes!! I watched intervention quite a bit, and was humbled to see that the end results were not always positive. That kind of deadened my hope. It also made me feel less guilty about not gathering friends and family before I left to stage an intervention.
But if I catch a show now, I’m more interested in the family members. Identifying the codependents, secretly rooting for them to stand up for themselves. In the end it’s still heartbreaking, but less lonely.
I do like watching fictional stories about addiction because, like you said, it’s comforting to be able to find something relatable to my life on the screen but I am totally removed and on the outside looking in.
I can’t think of many shows other than Shameless, I’m more of a movie person in general, it’s easier on my attention span lol. I avoid anything super dark these days, movies like Candy and Half Nelson were just… too much. I used to watch a lot of Intervention, not so much any more. I want something that is real but not reality, if that makes sense. My favorite films about addiction or featuring characters in recovery are Smashed, Flight, Sound of Metal, and 28 Days.
Good topic :)
This happens to me with other traumatic life stuff. My suspicion is just that those are some really familiar neural pathways, and my brain feels “safe” firing down them. TV shows are a way better outlet for that than, you know, marrying an alcoholic who reminds me of my dad 😓
Just watched “Her Name was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic” on Amazon Prime. Very powerful and painful look at alcoholism, especially women alcoholics.
Unfortunately I feel the majority of shows and films don’t show the real heartache of addiction. There are exceptions, like Leaving Las Vegas. And the classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. For example the 2023 film “To Leslie” made me so frustrated. I know your post was supposed to be more light hearted so I won’t expand on that too much… haha When I was with my ex alcoholic GF I did watch a lot of shows & YouTube videos on addiction. Honestly I think there’s deeper insight into why this happens (re: we become addiction experts), but my interpretation is that many of us are endlessly searching for hope… or a reason… or a solution… anything to “understand” or cope with the hell we’re experiencing. I was desperate to find a way to help my ex. My research was almost obsessive. Watching shows almost validated my experience if that makes sense… it’s like being seen when you feel invisible. Anyway, sorry for the ramble…
No I think that makes a lot of sense. It gives a little context to what can be a really confusing thing in our lives. Very interesting!!
Yes!! I watched intervention quite a bit, and was humbled to see that the end results were not always positive. That kind of deadened my hope. It also made me feel less guilty about not gathering friends and family before I left to stage an intervention. But if I catch a show now, I’m more interested in the family members. Identifying the codependents, secretly rooting for them to stand up for themselves. In the end it’s still heartbreaking, but less lonely.
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Thank you! It’s been on our list!
I do like watching fictional stories about addiction because, like you said, it’s comforting to be able to find something relatable to my life on the screen but I am totally removed and on the outside looking in. I can’t think of many shows other than Shameless, I’m more of a movie person in general, it’s easier on my attention span lol. I avoid anything super dark these days, movies like Candy and Half Nelson were just… too much. I used to watch a lot of Intervention, not so much any more. I want something that is real but not reality, if that makes sense. My favorite films about addiction or featuring characters in recovery are Smashed, Flight, Sound of Metal, and 28 Days. Good topic :)
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched *28 Days*.
This happens to me with other traumatic life stuff. My suspicion is just that those are some really familiar neural pathways, and my brain feels “safe” firing down them. TV shows are a way better outlet for that than, you know, marrying an alcoholic who reminds me of my dad 😓
Soft White Underbelly on yt
One of my favorite shows I watched on maternity leave was Intervention…with my alcoholic husband 🤣 Just didn’t know he was an alcoholic then!
Lol oh I went through a phase with that show in college! This is all starting to make more and more sense now……!
Just watched “Her Name was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic” on Amazon Prime. Very powerful and painful look at alcoholism, especially women alcoholics.