Matthew Perry’s memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, was released on November 1st. I personally love to listen to memoirs narrated by their author, and this one was especially poignant. Matthew Perry has a story to tell, and I listened to all 8 hours and 50 minutes over two days.
Of course, I watched Friends when it first aired on television. Chandler happened to be my favorite male character. His jokes, his timing, just everything about him was star quality. He was a standout in the incredible ensemble cast. But, what we, as the audience didn’t know, was the struggle Matthew was having behind the scenes. “The Big Terrible Thing” is Matthew’s addiction.
In the memoir, Matthew speaks of events in his childhood, his loneliness, and his struggle to fit in/belong with family and friends. He started to drink at age 14. By the time he starred in Friends, Matthew had been drinking for 10 years.
The point that Matthew wants to make in this book is that addiction is a disease. It is a disease that has almost taken Matthew’s life. His struggle is difficult to listen to, but I commend him for telling every detail. It took much courage on his part to share the “Big Terrible Thing” in his life. He put it out there on the table for all to see. Drug and alcohol addiction is not pretty. No one grows up with goals to become an addict.
Matthew is clean and sober now. He has found what works for him to stay this way for life. Matthew’s future is bright, and he has goals for helping others with addiction. I am so proud of him for sharing his story and in this way, breaking the stigma and shame that surrounds “The Big Terrible Thing.”
As I listened to Matthew’s story, I couldn’t help thinking about my nephew’s (Michael) struggle with addiction. What Matthew and Michael have in common with their struggle, is they could always help others, but not themselves. Matthew has found his way out of the grip of addiction. Sadly, my nephew did not. Michael died at age 28 in 2015 of an accidental overdose of heroin tainted with fentanyl. Since 2015, the rhetoric around addiction has changed. As more and more people died of drug overdoses, an opioid crisis began. Addiction is now seen as the disease it is, but there is still a long way to go to get the specialized treatment that each individual needs.
I thank Matthew Perry for writing his story. I believe it will help others by ending the stigma and shame surrounding addiction. I believe it will encourage people with addictions to seek help.
Matthew Perry, I wish you well in all of your future endeavors.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
If you or someone you know needs help with alcoholism, drug addiction or mental health, here are links to resources:
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