A Mom & More: Addiction really is a terrible thing

I recently finished Matthew Perry’s book “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” While intriguing, it was a tough read. at points.

Let’s go back a bit. Friends was the it show of my generation’s coming of age. I remember my freshman year of college, many of us in the dorms would get together Thursday nights to watch.

That was during season eight, when the audience found out it was really Rachel who was pregnant, and a few episodes later, that Ross was the father.

I remember the collective gasp at the relevtion and watching the storyline play out over the season.

At some point, I could not join in those watch parties anymore as I had class on Thursday nights, during the height of “Must-See TV” on NBC.

But then, by my junior year, the final season of Friends, I was back to group watching with my roommates and an extra friend or two.

It was during that year that one of my roommates also started collecting the DVDs — a new thing at the time. I went back to the beginning and watched all the storylines play out.

By the time the finale rolled around, I was completely caught up. My roommates and I had a party for it, and again, there was a collective gasp, even squeals, as Rachel revealed she got off the plane.

I immediately went out and started my own Friends DVD collection, and in short order, had the whole series at my fingertips. I watched on repeat for several years, and still occassionally go back through the entire series.

During all of this, I had heard and read that Matthew Perry had struggled with addiction throughout the filming of the show. I did not, however, understand just how deeply it all went until I read his book. And I felt parts of it personally.

While I do not struggle with addiction myself, I have had people in my life who do. It is a heartbreaking disease that truly impacts everyone around the addict. I do not wish it on my worst enemies.

And that’s what made the book so personal, and at times difficult. There were moments and passages that could have been written by these people in my life. I could see them in Perry’s story as I read it. I have seen some of those scenarios play out in their lives, though thankfully, in not as drastic of a measure as a colon exploding.

However, the book ends on hope with Perry being at peace in his recovery. I wish him well on that journey, and hope all addicts can find the same.

And remember, your loved ones will always be there for you.