Lena Dunham’s Addiction Recovery: Celebrating 5 Years of Sobriety
Lena Dunham is a well-known actress, writer, and director who has been open about her struggles with addiction. In her memoir, "Not That Kind of Girl," she revealed that she had been addicted to prescription drugs, specifically Klonopin, for many years. Her journey to recovery has been a difficult one, but it has also been inspiring and full of hope.
Lena Dunham, the creator and star of the hit HBO series "Girls," recently marked a special day for her recovery. She took to Instagram to share with her followers that she has been sober for five years now.
Her Struggle With Addiction
Lena Dunham's addiction to prescription drugs began when she was just 24 years old. She had been prescribed Klonopin to treat her anxiety and panic attacks, but she quickly became dependent on the drug. She described the feeling of being on Klonopin as "floating on a cloud," and she found it difficult to cope with the reality of her life without the drug.
Lena describes her struggle with addiction as something that hit her little by little, then all at once. Asking for help was the hardest part, but each step from there got easier. Her goal was to find ease in her body, ease in her restless mind, and the ease to exist in moments of pain, anxiety, and uncertainty without reaching for a solution that seemed to help in the moment but pulled her further away from the people she loved and the life she wanted.
The Road to Recovery
Lena Dunham’s road to recovery was a long and difficult one. She tried to quit Klonopin several times, but each attempt ended in failure. It wasn't until she hit rock bottom that she realised she needed to make a change. She described this moment in her memoir, saying:
"I was tired of living in a haze. I was tired of feeling like I was constantly running away from something. I was tired of feeling like I wasn't in control of my own life."
With the help of her family and friends, Lena Dunham checked into a rehab facility in 2018. She spent several months there, working on her recovery and learning how to cope with her addiction.
In her post, she recalls the day she first entered treatment for substance misuse five years ago. It was a difficult decision, but one that she knew she had to make in order to regain control of her life. Her parents hugged her goodbye as she entered the treatment centre, trembling like a little kid. It was the beginning of her journey towards sobriety.
The Happiest 5 Years of Her Life
The last five years have been the happiest of Lena's time on earth so far. They've been full of work, love, complexity, and yes, pain. But facing all of that without medicating herself in unhealthy ways has given her a sturdy baseline and new tools. Five years ago, all of this was impossible to imagine. Five days was impossible to imagine. Five minutes sometimes felt hard.
The Importance of Support and Resources
Lena credits her ability to get and stay sober to the support and resources she had available to her, both medical and spiritual. She acknowledges that for many people, the difference between sober and using isn't their willingness or strength, it's their resources. Our system doesn't make it easy for those who are already struggling to make their lives work.
Grateful for Every Lesson Learned
Lena acknowledges that there are many people who deserve thanks for helping her along the way. She hopes to give them enough of that face to face, but today is a good reminder to give more. Every day is a lesson that she is lucky to learn, and she doesn't take it for granted. She is especially grateful for today.
