October 28, 2019

"I didn’t think that I was a drug addict…. I thought drug addicts were depraved lunatics who wandered the streets, demanding crack from innocent children…”

“... and flaunting their open wounds in public parks. And I was a successful, capable celebrity who wandered red carpets demanding attention and flaunting her open boobs on TV. It’s totally different. When I was dropped off at rehab, I thought it was the end of my life. Seemingly overnight, I had lost almost all of what I hold dear: My relationships, my body and my career were in relative shambles… Even as a chronic over-sharer I lived in fear of anyone finding out…. Being me has sometimes hurt so much that I couldn’t bear it. But being me is also a super-power, and it’s the same for all of you… [A] woman who has overcome an addiction can do fucking anything."

Said Lena Dunham, quoted at Variety. Her addiction was to prescription pills — she's had painful medical problems — and she was doing a fundraiser for Friendly Houses.

66 comments:

rhhardin said...

Celebrity oversharing, as a genre of oversharing.

Fernandinande said...

She sounds sheltered, not very bright and rather hysterical, but not in a comedic way.

gilbar said...

I was a successful, capable celebrity
Assumes Facts Not in Evidence

Ficta said...

Pain pills are very seductive. I only took them for a few days after surgery and I could definitely see the abyss from there. I have great respect for anyone who kicks the habit and tries to help others do so.

Big Mike said...

She's just an attention whore, and if getting addicted to pain pills is how to get attention, well ...

traditionalguy said...

Feeling less pain is great,but since it includes screwing up your mind, it's also a disaster. Oxycodone always causes an addiction after 10 days. Kidney stones and spinal fusions are big pain incidents that MDs give the Oxycodone Rx's for on automatic. But there are many other pain killers that are not Oxycodone.

Iman said...

She has never apologized for forcing Americans to gaze at her porculent, naked body. My daughter admires her for being unashamed of that body. I disagree.

Crimso said...

For people who seemingly have everything, the misery of addiction can be especially painful. Imagine having everything that non-addicts would be very happy and grateful to have, but still feeling like shit (it should be noted that material things actually can make you happy, but not keep you happy).

More power to her, though I don't care for her. And she shouldn't be thinking about it in terms of "overcoming" addiction. Many of those who "overcome" addiction go back to it sooner or later. They may not be doomed to remaining in it after a relapse, but that should be an adequate lesson as to the permanence of the condition.

Laslo Spatula said...

I feel empathy for her.

I wish she hadn't added the "[A] woman who has overcome an addiction can do fucking anything," though. It makes her look smaller while trying to sound big. Universe > Feminism.

And if you are seeing your recovery through a political viewpoint, then you probably haven't fully assessed your internal issues yet: you are wanting to change the outcome without changing who you are.

Good luck and God bless.

I am Laslo.

Otto said...

Another "looking into the basement' post. I think Ann should have a new tag- Basement Dwelling.

Aggie said...

Zero comments. How appropriate.

samanthasmom said...

What will it take to make this woman just go away?

Sebastian said...

"[A] woman who has overcome an addiction can do fucking anything"

She may have kicked the habit, but she didn't kick her delusions.

Rob said...

Horse tranquilizers, I'm guessing.

James K said...

Rush Limbaugh got addicted to pain killers. Somehow I don’t remember the media being quite so supportive.

wendybar said...

samanthasmom said...
What will it take to make this woman just go away?
10/28/19, 10:54 AM

THIS^^^^ 1 Million times!!!

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

Unfortunately, you don't "defeat" an addiction. It never goes away. I wish her well, but it's not over. She'll do it again, and again, and again, if history is any guide.

Anyone who has an addict in their family has seen the pattern. Talk is cheap. What matters is what you do. Doing is a lot harder than self-congratulatory talk.

narciso said...

she had her 15 minutes, which went on way too long, into the parodyland of American horror story,

effinayright said...

[A] woman who has overcome an addiction can do fucking anything."
*********

Can she pee through a straw?

rehajm said...

What will it take to make this woman just go away?

I feel this way about her, too. I do hope she found the help she needs in rehab. Now where do we send her to gain a bit of perspective, maturity and/or humility? I'll drive...

Iman said...

samanthasmom asks the most important question... just what WILL it take?

Bay Area Guy said...

My relationships, my body and my career were in relative shambles…

Sheeyit, I coulda told you that free of charge!

Kathryn51 said...

I thought drug addicts were depraved lunatics who wandered the streets. . . "

I say bullshit. First Lady Betty Ford admitted her addiction over 40 years ago and was the catalyst for raising awareness of how easy it was to become addicted.

For the last 20 years or more, every cop show ("Law and Order", I'm looking at you), investigation show ("Criminal Minds") and most dramas have featured at least one show each season that portrayed a housewife or successful professional as a "victim" of pain killer addiction. All the fault of big bad pharma, usually.

If precious Lena Dunham didn't know the history of Betty Ford, then she just proves that she is an ignorant bitch.

Rick said...

Modern victim culture is so powerful even the life-long pampered and privileged need to believe they are victims.

stevew said...

What I was going to say here has already been said better by Laslo. So, that's it for me.

Openidname said...

I never thought I'd say, "Good for Lena Dunham," but good for Lena Dunham.

gilbar said...

Lena, Lena, Lena; not to sound cliched...
But, HOW can we Miss You; if you won't Go AWAY?

Marc in Eugene said...

Looked up porculent because while the presumably intended meaning is more or less obvious it didn't seem to be a 'real word'; it's not in the OED. But pisculent certainly is, although marked obsolete and rare: 'that draws attention to itself in the manner of stinking fish', conspicuous. 'The pisculent Lena Dunham' has a certain éclat, I think.

Otto said...

Speaking about the basement, how about Katie Hill another basement dweller. Feminism dies in darkness.

Leland said...

Glad she got help, but I'm not sure she's really learned what she needed to learn. Alas, women who have avoided addiction have done lots of fucking things. I'm tired of making heroes of those who chose to do stupid things, insult others that tell them it is stupid, and when they finally realize they were stupid; now think they are smarter than anyone else. Yeah, I would include Scott Adams in that characterization.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Americans’ love of drugs may soon bring Mexico’s collapse

William said...

I have less character than most people. I was prescribed oxy post op. I didn't like the druggy feeling or the constipation. I was eager to get off them and did so without much trouble.....I did give up cigarettes. That was extremely difficult, but not a super power. Nicotine addiction has a long half life. I still get twinges....The really tough thing is keeping weight off. Food is an addiction that does not weaken with time. She's not morbidly obese. I suppose she can take pride in that.

Iman said...

Porculent derives from a combination of corpulent and porcine, Marc.

Lewis Wetzel said...

Just because you've major f*cked your own life doesn't mean that you can't manage the lives of others.

William said...

I find the story of Demi Moore far more inspirational. There's a woman who overcame extraordinary beauty, tons of money, marriage to two movie stars and many other troubles to find sobriety and a happy, balanced life. I've struggled with many of these problems, and I was glad to see that they can be overcome.

Roughcoat said...

She should be ashamed of body.

MayBee said...

I wish her luck in her continued recovery. I hope her story helps others seek treatment and sobriety.

Big Mike said...

I thought drug addicts were depraved lunatics

You are, Lena. You are.

PM said...

Kicking a drug habit is a slog. Don't care who it is.

Bay Area Guy said...

"Kicking a drug habit is a slog. Don't care who it is"

Definitely true.

But the first question is, What lead a person to go down that path in the first place?

Unknown said...

Alex, I'll take "Celebrities Who I Hope I Never Hear From Again" for $500, please.

Iman said...

I think very low self-esteem and self-hatred can contribute to what may have seemed to be a good time at the beginning turning into a Hell that the user finds nearly impossible to escape. And the seeming inability to escape only feeds the self-hatred.

PM said...

B-A-G:
Medical issue, recreation, stress, 'friends', curiosity, depression - I'm sure there are more - powered by the mistaken illusion it can be handled.

JEP said...

Well, shit, you think Lena has overcome addiction and entered the set of fucking cosmically empowered women who can do anything? There I was. At the 6:30PM 12-step meeting. He swept in (not quite as if he was walking onto a yacht but close), waited until the circle came around to him, and let us know he had encountered the 12 steps for the first time that afternoon at 4:30 and had completed through step 10. He looked around. Top that, losers! Not one of us had been able to finish the first 10 steps in under 2 hours. This was clearly some kind of record. So when I think of her ash-canning addiction, what about him? He, like, pre-left her in the dust.

DavidUW said...

No, she can’t do any thing because she possesses no discernible talent of any value.

readering said...

Reminds me I still need to see Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Rabel said...

Clonazepam (Klonopin) addiction according to Lena. Nothing to do with painkillers.

Iman said...


I dreamed, I saw Kate Hill last night
Alive as you and me
Says I "But Kate, you've shat the bed”
"I never shat" says she
"I never shat" says she

"The pervy vices ruined you, Kate"
"They shamed you, Kate" says I
"Takes more than shame to kill a pol"
Says Kate, “I didn't lie”
Says Kate, “I didn't lie"

And standing there, with bong in hand
A dull look in her eyes
Says Kate, “Hey dude, let’s party man!”
She parted chubby thighs
She parted chubby thighs

From Simi Valley in the south
To Gorman on the ‘vine
Where workin’ folks will cast their votes
Kate Hill had crossed a line
Kate Hill had crossed a line

Marc in Eugene said...

This is off-topic in one sense, obviously, but I'm fairly sure that I first knew of Emma Sulkowitz ('Mattress Girl') from a post here, maybe in Girls context. She's not carrying mattresses anymore.

sdharms said...

Could you identify things that come from Lena Dunham upfront please that way I can skip them. There is nothing in the world that she could say that I am interested in

Marc in Eugene said...

Porculent derives from a combination of corpulent and porcine, Marc.

I see it's in Urban Dictionary, where I didn't think to look earlier. Persuade Joan Baez to record that 'I dreamed I saw Kate Hill' lyric and I'll make a point to add the blended 'porculent' to my vocabulary. :-)

Bilwick said...

From what I remember, she's also addicted to statism, which is far worse. With drug addiction she might, with luck, kill only herself. Statism has killed millions.

Otto said...

Katie Hill blames right wing media for her being an ac/dc whore. Victimization dies in darkness.

rcocean said...

Sorry is this the unfunny left-wing fat chick - who accused a conservative of raping her in college? Or is that *another* unfunny left-wing fat chick? Or is she a fat chick singer, that i never listened to? She is fat, isn't she?

Anyway, the celebs used to all go to the Betty Ford Clinic when they needed publicity or be cured from drugs/booze/whatever. Now they go to twitter and Facebook.

rcocean said...

That's one great thing about the fragmentation of Pop Culture. Before, say in the 80s, we still had one pop culture. And so if your co-worker or date started talking about Michael Jackson or Eddie Murphy you were more or less expected to know about them and have an opinion. Usually I'd say "Wow, Jackson really knows how to moon-walk" and then change the subject. Now, I am comfortable in my ignorance. No one expects you to know their favorite rapper - or that star they love on Netflix. They don't even expect you to watch the tonight show. They just bore you telling you how great they are.

bagoh20 said...

Everybody is trying to stop doing the same thing I'm trying to do. Where do you get all these prescription painkillers? I hear there is an epidemic, but nobody is offering me any, even my doctor when I actually have pain. I got money. What's the problem. Do I smell that bad? Do I look like a narc? What's up?

RobinGoodfellow said...


Horse tranquilizers, I'm guessing.

10/28/19, 10:57 AM
Blogger James K said...
Rush Limbaugh got addicted to pain killers. Somehow I don’t remember the media being quite so supportive.


Yeah. That’s a bit of an understatement.

Iman said...

That’s a deal, Marc!

Rick Caird said...

Lena's story is a typical one of addiction. If she had continued on it would have even harder to get back. These things, including alcohol and gambling are subtle. They assure us we are OK even as we begin the slide. I would not fault her for how she tells her story. It sounds quite normal.

rcocean said...

"Yeah. That’s a bit of an understatement."

Yeah k'now poor ol' al franken. The guy we're supposed to feel so sorry for. Stabbed in the back by Amy Kochblob or whatever. A Senate Giant brought low by a little error of judgement. Who knew women didn't want their boobs grabbed? The New Yorker had a sad story about Good Ol' Al. Maybe he's been punished enough. Forgive Al Franken. Its the Christian thing to do.

Of course, Al wasn't in a forgiving mood when Rush got busted for doctor shopping. "Throw 'em off the air" said Good ol' Al. "Lock em' up" said nice guy Al. And when Limbaugh was going deaf, and it was thought Limbaugh would lose his show AND his hearing for LIFE, why "Good ol' Al" did a little happy dance. He laughed at Limbaugh at going deaf. haha.

So no the liberals weren't sad when Limbaugh had a drug problem or when he went deaf or when Brietbart died or,or, or. Its only the Center-right that keeps thinking the left is decent and thinks "Gosh darn it, we're all Americans".

rcocean said...

BTW, our dog, who's a real bitch, was addicted to eating plastic. We finally got her to stop after a Vet stomach operation and keeping every damn piece of plastic out of her sight. Maybe Lena has the same problem.

madAsHell said...

She doesn't think she's fat, and ugly either!!

gilbar said...

an Obvious narc said...
Do I look like a narc? What's up?


Yes, Bagoh20, you totally look like a narc!

iowan2 said...

[A] woman who has overcome an addiction can do fucking anything."
She is due a spectacular relapse, unless she finds some hint of humility. A person in recovery would never make such a statement.

Rush Limbaugh got addicted to pain killers. Somehow I don’t remember the media being quite so supportive.
The lefts only consistency is double standard

Anyone who has an addict in their family has seen the pattern. Talk is cheap. What matters is what you do. Doing is a lot harder than self-congratulatory talk.
True. Promises made by the addict are not lies, they really do believe. Almost all are not yet ready to stop, have yet to find their personal bottom.

"I thought drug addicts were depraved lunatics who wandered the streets. . . "

I say bullshit. First Lady Betty Ford admitted her addiction over 40 years ago and was the catalyst for raising awareness of how easy it was to become addicted.

This lie, is what keeps users, using. The lie that they are not like "them"

"Kicking a drug habit is a slog. Don't care who it is"

Definitely true.

But the first question is, What lead a person to go down that path in the first place?

A meaningless examination. Has no bearing on getting clean, or finding recovery.

perhaps the most pertinent concept...'there are those to that suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover, if they have the capacity to be honest'

Kay said...

rcocean said...
That's one great thing about the fragmentation of Pop Culture. Before, say in the 80s, we still had one pop culture. And so if your co-worker or date started talking about Michael Jackson or Eddie Murphy you were more or less expected to know about them and have an opinion. Usually I'd say "Wow, Jackson really knows how to moon-walk" and then change the subject. Now, I am comfortable in my ignorance. No one expects you to know their favorite rapper - or that star they love on Netflix. They don't even expect you to watch the tonight show. They just bore you telling you how great they are.
10/28/19, 4:26 PM


Very true observation, and I’ve noticed it myself. It’s one of the main reason why the phrase “MSM” makes no sense to me in this day and age.

readering said...

Now one can fill gaps in knowledge of pop culture with ease. Who is Dunham? Google can make you informed in a few minutes. And you likely want to be informed, compared to my memory of older generation in sixties.