Recently while watching some daytime reality television, I was shocked at what I was seeing.

I could not believe how out of touch with real life this was. It really got me thinking about how could I make any difference in the lives of real women or families dealing with issues that come up every day related to living in the real world and overcoming addiction issues while maintaing a healthy life. And how that should absolutely be what’s being protrayed to anyone who may struggle with these issues. Or even anyone who is not for that matter. I would love to have an outlet that shows the real daily struggles a mother or wife may encounter. And how work through obsticals without the need to pop a pill to satisfy any emotional or physical discomfort you may have come up during the day.  To show something actually relatable to someone who may need a bit of inspiration to keep moving forward.

I was watching a “reality”  show about housewives. So from what I could gather one of the women on the show is sober amongst many other wives who clearly overindulge in drinking socially. While having a visit at the sober wives house they bonded over juicing rather than cocktails. The conversation quickly turned to the bag of miscellaneous pills one had in her purse. Perhaps they should just drop some xanex into their juices to really jazz up the night. What really struck me was the way the producers of this show played up the illicit use of narcatic pills. How she had a pill for all the ladies needs and how normal this practice is in their daily life. So because they live in Hollywood, is it ok to whip out a bag of random pills on national tv and joke about passing around deadly pills to your pals while drinking?

There was a time in my life I did not know how deadly mixing xanex and alcohol were. Or worse, xanex and opiates was. It surly is not something to be joking about. Surely these women don’t honestly think anything in their pretencious lives is at all relatable to the average wife’s life! In real life running around with a bag of miscellaneous pills in your purse out of the assigned bottles with your name on them is a crime.  As is passing them out to your pals without them being prescribed. But hey, what’s the harm if it’s amongst frenemies on a reality show. It really got me thinking how really out of touch most every reality show I’ve ever watched is. One of my own reasons for this blog journey is to hopefully bridge the gap between real life and reality television and other social media outlets. I see even my own children spending so much time watching these scripted series and I am really hoping to have an opportunity to give a voice or courage to speak up to some moms who need to hear the real deal.  It is so reckless to make light of such a very serious subject. There are so many people struggling with the devastating effect of benzo addiction. Mixing that drug with any depressant should never be sensationalized.

I remeber the first time I was prescribed xanex for an airplane flight. I thought the pharmacist was overreacting to the possible negative side effects and risk of addiction. It was not to long after my life was absolutely unmanageable without the self prescribed heavy doses I was allowing myself. Ultimately my addiction to benzos is what kept me from receiving inpatient treatment. Due to the high liability related to seizure and possible death.

I had to ultimately kick it myself in an brutal at home regime nobody should ever have to live through. I have to think there had to be a better way to help manage my stress than with the quick to script doctor I had at the time.  I hope that by sharing these stories along with education about addiction, parenting strategies       and alternative pain and stress management I may be able to make a difference in someone’s life.