I would add that those of us who have lived with and loved people struggling with AUDs and SUDs similarly learn to compartmentalize and also, because of our hyper vigilance, tend to recognize the signs that someone is using long before others do.
Absolutely. A big part of recovery for us “co-addicts” is gradually letting go of the need to be on guard all the time, constantly scanning the environment for threats. It’s exhausting.
I loved this show. One reason is that it depicts the high-functioning addict. A lot of people who have little knowledge of substance abuse have a stereotype in their mind of how addicts act, how they look, what they do. The truth can be very different.
I couldn’t get past just a few episodes of this show. While I’ve never struggled with addiction myself, I come from a family of addicts. I’ve cared about too many people I’ve had to watch self destruct and frankly, this show was TOO good at depicting an addict— part amazing mom, wife, and nurse, part an addict willing to compromise her family, job, and morality to get what she needs.
I hope it ended well, but I couldn’t bring myself to stick around and find out nor even google to see. It’s not surprising so many people in recovery worked on the show.
That makes total sense. I think I stopped watching after season 1 bc it was getting too hard to watch, but I feel like I might be able to now. We’ll see, tho, it could get too intense!
Didn't know Edie Falco ever had an addiction. She's pretty great. I only ever watched the first episode. It was just difficult to watch. I don't like hospital shows or maybe it was just ER that I always found depressing it just reminded me so much of a stressful job.
I recently re-watched Nurse Jackie for the second time and was so happy to stumble upon this article. I'm definitely in the post-watch-depression/hangover phase where I can't stop thinking about the show and wishing there were more episodes to watch. Thank you for this write-up!
I've been wanting to watch this. I'm in recovery from drugs, but I've had a traumatic birth experience since. So I don't do well sith surgery shows anymore. Which is sad because I loved Grey's. Are there a lot of surgery scenes or is it mostly in the ER?
A) I totally get that, I have some trauma around surgery, too. B) with the caveat that I’ve only seen the first season so far, it’s all in the ER. There’s some standard ER gore, but much less than you’d see on the Pitt (if that’s a useful point of reference)
I'm adding this show to my list. "Takes one to know one." Oof. I couldn't help but think back to my teaching days... the days I went to school hungover... most likely with alcohol still in my system... hands shaking. Definitely not proud moments:( I'll always wonder if anyone noticed. Most likely, yes. I'm SO INCREDIBLY grateful that I didn't lose my job (because I realize it was a "not yet" reality) and that I got sober 3 years before retirement.
I binged this series in 2016 when I was getting clean from my own opiate addiction. Hoo boy, did I see so much of myself in Jackie's behaviors and rationalizations. It was truly the perfect accompaniment as I was getting my life together.
Fun fact: it’s not Steve Buscemi who plays the part of “God.” It’s actually his brother Michael. I was also fooled for many episodes, thinking it was Steve.
I would add that those of us who have lived with and loved people struggling with AUDs and SUDs similarly learn to compartmentalize and also, because of our hyper vigilance, tend to recognize the signs that someone is using long before others do.
Definitely. You stated this much better than I could. Though, sometimes I worry that my hyper vigilance makes me paranoid or too critical.
It can be so hard to let that go!
Absolutely. A big part of recovery for us “co-addicts” is gradually letting go of the need to be on guard all the time, constantly scanning the environment for threats. It’s exhausting.
💯
I loved this show. One reason is that it depicts the high-functioning addict. A lot of people who have little knowledge of substance abuse have a stereotype in their mind of how addicts act, how they look, what they do. The truth can be very different.
Totally agree. The compartmentalization is the hardest part of recovery, after putting down the substance. 28 years and still practicing. 🙏🏼
I couldn’t get past just a few episodes of this show. While I’ve never struggled with addiction myself, I come from a family of addicts. I’ve cared about too many people I’ve had to watch self destruct and frankly, this show was TOO good at depicting an addict— part amazing mom, wife, and nurse, part an addict willing to compromise her family, job, and morality to get what she needs.
I hope it ended well, but I couldn’t bring myself to stick around and find out nor even google to see. It’s not surprising so many people in recovery worked on the show.
That makes total sense. I think I stopped watching after season 1 bc it was getting too hard to watch, but I feel like I might be able to now. We’ll see, tho, it could get too intense!
Didn't know Edie Falco ever had an addiction. She's pretty great. I only ever watched the first episode. It was just difficult to watch. I don't like hospital shows or maybe it was just ER that I always found depressing it just reminded me so much of a stressful job.
It’s a tough watch for sure
I recently re-watched Nurse Jackie for the second time and was so happy to stumble upon this article. I'm definitely in the post-watch-depression/hangover phase where I can't stop thinking about the show and wishing there were more episodes to watch. Thank you for this write-up!
Katie I need to revisit this amazing show now and it’s directly because of this essay
I've been wanting to watch this. I'm in recovery from drugs, but I've had a traumatic birth experience since. So I don't do well sith surgery shows anymore. Which is sad because I loved Grey's. Are there a lot of surgery scenes or is it mostly in the ER?
A) I totally get that, I have some trauma around surgery, too. B) with the caveat that I’ve only seen the first season so far, it’s all in the ER. There’s some standard ER gore, but much less than you’d see on the Pitt (if that’s a useful point of reference)
Looks like another friend has pointed out another show to put on my watch list!
I'm adding this show to my list. "Takes one to know one." Oof. I couldn't help but think back to my teaching days... the days I went to school hungover... most likely with alcohol still in my system... hands shaking. Definitely not proud moments:( I'll always wonder if anyone noticed. Most likely, yes. I'm SO INCREDIBLY grateful that I didn't lose my job (because I realize it was a "not yet" reality) and that I got sober 3 years before retirement.
I binged this series in 2016 when I was getting clean from my own opiate addiction. Hoo boy, did I see so much of myself in Jackie's behaviors and rationalizations. It was truly the perfect accompaniment as I was getting my life together.
(10 1/2 years clean today!)
Fun fact: it’s not Steve Buscemi who plays the part of “God.” It’s actually his brother Michael. I was also fooled for many episodes, thinking it was Steve.
Is that later in the series? I haven’t seen “God” yet; I just know Steve directed a bunch of nurse Jackie episodes
I read it again, you did say directed, sorry!
No worries! Excited to see his brother when I get there
You’re right! He did direct!! I thought the article meant he was acting. Just wait for it.