Author |
Message |
Bluejaxrock
Member
04-23-2004
| Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 7:48 pm
Used to spray "Pam" into a tissue then inhale it...yep, people will do all kinds of things to get their rush. The difference between addiction and social usage is the turning from "living to drink/drug/other" to "drinking/drugging/other to live"...there's usually a bottom waiting to be hit.
|
Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 8:05 pm
Bluejax - I agree. Thanks so much for sharing your personal story. Maybe they should have called the show ADDICTION since that's what they showed more of than the INTERVENTION or recovery. Does anyone remember if they were told it was 60 or 90 days for treatment? I can't remember now.
|
Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 4:33 pm
Yes, thx for sharing. words mean so much when written by someone who has 'been there'. It is very hard to describe or explain the depths that some people get to...but for some at least Family cares and can get them help. Often I think it is the person themselves that has to make the decision though. You have to do it for yourself. Kinda wish we had this show on one of my channels. Oh well. I dont like watching misery on tv. Dont watch any of the Emergency shows, Pathology Shows (like CSI) or the police shootem up shows. They bother me as I have seen stuff like that in real life. It isnt just "TV entertainment" for me. Around every death, accident, OD there is a family who feels the repercussions and I dont think TV shows what "really " goes on. It is gratuitous in my opinion. GEESH, I rant alot LOL
|
Jodied75
Member
08-26-2004
| Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 8:17 pm
Gabe reminds me of Ted from Queer as Folk.
|
Jodied75
Member
08-26-2004
| Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 9:05 pm
Wow, that was really intense. I can't believe that Gabe's family and friends put up with him for that long. I know he has a serious problem, but he is just plain obnoxious, and spoiled as they come. I knew I recognized Vanessa from somewhere! I love E.R. She's just so much thinner now. Too bad that neither person had successful treatment. I can't imagine an insurance company telling me when I'm well enough to go home, so they don't have to pay for it. And Gabe hasn't gambled? Right.
|
Scorpiomoon
Member
06-06-2002
| Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 9:05 pm
I found this episode fascinating. On the one hand you have Vanessa who truly has a chemical imbalance that impacts her behavior. Then you have Gabe. He may be an addict out of control, but I get the feeling, before the gambling got serious, he was a spoiled, obnoxious little boy who always got his way. I didn't feel the least bit of sympathy for him nor his parents.
|
Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 12:45 am
I agree Scorpio. I was sitting her watching with my 21-yr-old DD and we both just gasped when he said parents were responsible for supporting their "children" their whole lives and sell everything to help them. I was surprised he even went. He acted much worse than those with drug addictions. I could accept the behavior better from someone strung out on drugs, but this guy was seriously delusional and he didn't get to be 31 and in that situation without some serious enabling. We also didn't buy that he wasn't gambling just by his supposed statement. I'm interested in looking at some old ERs now so I can see if I can pick out Vanaessa. She had so many "disorders" I was shocked everytime they kept adding more to her list. I'd really like to know how she's doing. Also, there did seem to be a need, if she did indeed have all those disorders, for medication, albeit perhaps a "different" kind since she was in such bad shape. I was surprised she was able to get out to shop at all! Also, she must make good money from those ER reruns from what they noted at the end - she got 45k(??) from previous TV work! (Not sure I have that amount correct, but I was surprised with how much it was!) Next week's episode looks even more intense. It might be really hard to those who don't handle blood, etc., well, since it's about a cutter. I just thought I'd warn people in advance. DD said there was no way she could watch that one.
|
Scorpiomoon
Member
06-06-2002
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 12:54 am
I was surprised she was able to get out to shop at all! Yeah. I agree. It's kind of odd what motivates any of us, isn't it? Vanessa was freaked about leaving her house for a million reason. But when it came to shopping, she was cool about it. I guess if shopping brings her comfort, it's not so strange. I felt so bad for her when she was rattling off the names of all her medications. Aye yi yi. I'm going to go over to imdb.com and see if I can out more about what shows she has been on.
|
Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 12:56 am
I bet he'll be using someone soon.. just hope his family holds fast and doesn't enable him any more. His history shows me that it isn't always the best thing to let bright kids rush ahead of their social skills and emotional age.. clearly didn't benefit Gabe. I had a hard time watching him. As for Vanessa I have no doubt she has at least one disorder, but I'd say she has way more diagnoses and prescriptions and that's probably what her insurance covered instead of actual therapy.. bummer. It sounded like her getting out to shop was fairly limited (but wow you could just SEE the endorphins flowing!) but shopping from home is WAY too easy.. I'm surprised she hasn't discovered QVC.com.. that's even easier.. just click click click and those boxes arrive.
|
Scorpiomoon
Member
06-06-2002
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 1:01 am
And here is her imdb.com bio page. Oddly enough, I remember Vanessa best from a made for TV movie called "Locked Up: A Mother's Rage". I vaguely remember her from the movie "Stand and Deliver". Vanessa has actually done quite well for herself. You can't help but think of how much more success she would have had if it wasn't for her mental illness.
|
Scorpiomoon
Member
06-06-2002
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 1:05 am
I'm surprised she hasn't discovered QVC.com.. Or, God forbid, eBay. 
|
Marej
Member
09-20-2002
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 7:34 am
Gabe's story really got to me and I couldn't sleep. To me, it seemed like he really thought other people HAD to give him money and nothing was his fault.
|
Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 12:52 pm
Yes, Gabe needs some extreme attitude adjustment and in his case it may take prison to start that process. I'm glad his parents said "no more" but fear they may cave .. Yeah, that too, Scorpio, but trust me.. QVC is like a mainline into your credit card and the hosts are so trained to make people feel so special.. I'm talking here about the ones "chosen" to talk on air.. many of them sound lonely and needy and they get big strokes for buying. Heck, if you spend enough you get a special Christmas card signed by all the hosts.. so I can see an agoraphobic getting really hooked in. and if she wanted to stick to the phone well they have that too and great customer service. Scarey.
|
Bluejaxrock
Member
04-23-2004
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 2:01 pm
I said I'd try to catch the show, but thanks to DD only saw the last 20 minutes. I was shocked at Gabe...if I'd been in on the intervention, the cell phone would have gone flying! I agree with you posters who said he seemed like a spoiled brat. The guide said he'd lost $500K and his parents' home? I can't lose my home unless I put it up...that's some enabling on the parents' part. And they're paying for his phone? Hmmmmm. The first thing I thought when it showed he left after 3 weeks against medical advice and said he's not gambling was "wanna bet?" lol I didn't see much of Vanessa...she had drug addictions too? Or medical conditions that caused her to have so many prescriptions? Speaking for myself, I do have cross-addictions. Many addicts do. For me it's all about the compulsive personality. I never knew how to do anything in moderation...school work, eating, drinking, smoking, etc. I'm not sure if I'll be able to watch the cutting episode, either. Yeah, I was hurting myself when I was using, but it was indirect...lol No blood...no ouchies. I received treatment before the days of HMOs, so there was no doubt that when I went in for 30 days, it was for 30 days. If I left against medical advice, there was a good possibility that the insurance wouldn't pay a dime. (That's a heckuva incentive to stay!) I've talked to friends who've been in treatment within the last five years, and their treatment is kind of on a day-by-day basis...all dependant on what the insurance company thinks, not what doctors recommend.
|
Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 3:43 pm
Insurance companies suck when it comes to mental illness! You're almost better off to have no insurance at all and then it's covered. (My BIL was destitute and went to a hospital and was put in a center for alcoholism and he was able to stay as long as the program was for. It was very intense. Visitors for only 2 hrs on Sat. and they'd strip you down almost to make sure you weren't bringing anything in that could mess anyone up. My DH had a hard time knowing what to bring him and even when he brought him some candy, BIL said to take it back because someone would just steal it.) Anyway.... back to insurance companies! My oldest DD ended up severely depressed at the end of her junior year in HS and we found out just how bad because she did try to cut herself. Not the suicide kind, but the kind they're to cover and she never did it to the extreme. There's no scars that I can see on her body anyway and she's been able to model so.... the thing is, we called and got her into therapy the next day. We have one of the "blues" and they will pay if you see a psychciatrist, but not a psychologist. Well psychologists are the ones who do the "talk therapy" and the M.D. is aboard for diagnosis and prescribing of medication. It makes it very difficult if you don't qualify for "aid" but don't make that much money. She's 24 now and living out of town, but I still try to keep track of her "moods" through her roommate. I know she's always going to be vulnerable and I hate to think there was something we could do, but didn't. The thing is, she HAS TO WANT to do therapy, etc., otherwise it's just not worth the money. So far so good, but it's something I think I'll always have in the back of my mind when she goes through difficult times. It's hard to even admit your kid did this to herself and you wonder what you did wrong in raising them, although my younger DD who was watching last night attempted to make me feel better in that she and her brother are fine.
|
Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 6:54 pm
Yeah Vanessa was seeing a meds doc it seemed and diagnosed with a whole alphabet of ills OCD, agoraphobia were just the beginning and she had tons of meds too. Well had I been around Gabe that cell phone would have ended up where the sun doesn't shine.
|
Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 7:43 pm
OMG Gabe is a piece of work!!! I wonder if his mom spoiled him his whole life for him to act like this as a adult.
|
Bluejaxrock
Member
04-23-2004
| Monday, March 14, 2005 - 8:19 pm
Watching2, that's the key exactly. The person has to want it badly enough. My dad is a recovering alcoholic, (I always said I've never be like him...never say never) and my mom was the best at acting like everything was ok so she was carrying her own baggage, but I knew they loved me and cannot blame them for what I became. I tried, don't get me wrong. But I finally took responsibility for my own actions. All this to say there wasn't anything my parents could have done differently that would change where I was and where I am today. My prayers are with you and yours. As for Gabe, there will come a day when he has absolutely no one else to turn to. Friends shun you because they've had enough, and acquaintances are only there for you as long as you've got money. What will this boy/man do then?
|
Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 1:33 am
Thanks, Bluejax! 
|
Scorpiomoon
Member
06-06-2002
| Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 9:04 pm
Aye yi yi. Watching the scenes with Tamela cutting herself was so difficult. There was a few times when I had to change the channel because it was too much. I was glad to see her mom apologize for not handling the molestation situation better. For awhile there, I was thinking they were choosing their religion over their daughter's well-being. Isn't it so sad and so shocking how words can impact someone? That guy who called Tamela a "wh-re" was just being a jerk and probably didn't give it a second thought, but look at the reaction it created. I kept thinking, I can't imagine what it must have been like for the camera crew to film her cutting herself. Oh wow. I don't know about Tamela's boyfriend. They didn't show too much of him, but I was left with the impression he is stimulated by her drama--it gives him something to talk and think about so he can feel important. I don't know what to say about Jerrie. Where do you go when you've been kicked out of rehab? I felt so bad for her.
|
Marej
Member
09-20-2002
| Monday, March 21, 2005 - 7:02 am
I really like this show, but it's so intense, you can't sleep very well. In last week's episode, it said the pre-intervention meeting can take up to 6 hours. Very good show.
|
Jodied75
Member
08-26-2004
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 10:03 pm
I wonder if these people are promised a lot of money to do this show. Otherwise, why in the world would they do it? Many people tend to be much more secretive about their addictions, otherwise they open the door to stronger interference by others.
|
Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 8:02 am
I keep missing this show. I caught the tail end of a reshowing of it during the late night/early morning time. I wish it was on at another time, but then again, I have no idea WHICH time I would choose. LOL
|
Jodied75
Member
08-26-2004
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 11:41 am
By the way, where were these people from? I didn't recognize the accent, but it reminded me of the way the Amish kids talked from Amish in the City.
|
Bluejaxrock
Member
04-23-2004
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 1:20 pm
Jodied75, I kept thinking they were from the north, like Wisconsin. I totally understand when the addict says, "I'll go, just not today" because I wanted to 'savor' the last time I got high so I'd remember it forever. LOL! Of course, once in treatment, they try to get you to forget how good it could feel (and being the addict I am, I never remembered what the drug/alcohol took from me, just the way I felt when using/drinking.) Kinda like going on the Atkin's diet - you know you won't have carbs for a long time, so you eat chips, etc., and savor each bite. Yeah, it's sick... I thought Sara looked soooo much better after being in treatment - much healthier. Keep on keepin' on, Sara. It works if you work it.
|
Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 11:21 pm
Blue - It's the same thing with quitting cigarettes and dieting. You'll always do it as soon as you get done enjoying what you're doing NOW! Speaking of carbs... I saw the most hysterical thing yesterday. We stopped in one of those gas stations/mini marts and I went to get a coke. You had a choice of low-carb ICE and regular ice!! I HAD TO ask the quy at the check-out what the heck was with THAT. Isn't ice WATER?! Uh.. carbs in water?!!! (Ok, someone correct me if I'm wrong here!! ) He said he didn't know what the deal was, but all of the places have it. We were in a college town (Where Cornell U is) and he said, "We were laughing hysterically when all the college girls came in and were so excited. They said, 'We've been waiting for this!'" I'm surprised they didn't charge for the "low carb ice!" lol I just saw the end and yes, Sara looked so much more healthy!
|
Marej
Member
09-20-2002
| Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 7:15 am
Sara said, Ramsey County. Then I saw the MN license plate. I think the intervention was in a St. Paul suburb; maybe White Bear Lake.
|
Bluejaxrock
Member
04-23-2004
| Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 7:55 pm
Sunday's show previewed a cutter next week. Repeat?
|
Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 9:06 pm
Could be, Blue. I came across a repeat of the show and was hoping it was one I hadn't seen, but it was the shopping one again.
|
Jodied75
Member
08-26-2004
| Monday, April 11, 2005 - 3:55 pm
so was it a repeat? the cutting one was the only one I missed. I wonder if they will do eating disorders.
|