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Hear me out. He is kinda funny, but also bugs me a lot of the time. Not enough to actually enter my consciousness in full, but enough to register a snort when I hear his telltale accent drifting from a TV channel I arbitrarily switched to while waiting for something actually interesting to grab me.

My friend posted something he wrote about addiction, and I found it spellbinding. It also made me think about how grateful I am to have the community here at SI - for nobody truly understands where you are coming from unless they have been there themselves.

Just wanted to share, in case you or someone you love is dealing with addiction and you haven't personally experienced it. I haven't personally experienced it, but I feel a shade closer having read this.

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8857821/fixing-a-hole/

That was amazing.

Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution.

Very powerful, thank you for sharing.

Wow. Thanks for sharing that. I did see something on yahoo with Russell Brand and addiction and I thought, 'Eh, not reading that' but you got me to read it by posting it here and I'm glad you did.

That was an excellent article. I completely agree with him, and though I had seen an interview or two where he briefly mentioned his addiction I wasn't aware of the scope of it until now.

I never would have read this article without your post. My eyes automatically start rolling whenever I see or hear him.

This is a powerful read. Thank you, Razzie.

I never would have read this article without your post. My eyes automatically start rolling whenever I see or hear him.

That was me too. I have some close friends/family with addiction struggles and something just drew me to this.

Glad you all liked it.

Jrazz

Thank you so much for sharing this. This is me. This is my story.

It's so simple. But it's not easy at all.

Actually I have always thought Russel Brand is a sharp and interesting person - but the only way I "know" him is through the interviews he gives about addiction, post-addiction recovery and the like. I've always liked his candor, and he's pretty articulate.

I don't know a single other thing about him except that he was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I don't even know if he's actually an actor or singer or what. So I'm not eye rolley about at all. Reading y'all's hesitation to even read something he wrote is interesting - is he like some super annoying talk show host or something?

circe, he's a comedian and in a bunch of movies I've never seen, so I don't have an eye-rolly reaction to him.

Ooh, a comedian, I guess that makes sense. He was pretty funny in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

wow. eye opener.. has anyone seen him in get him to the greek. I use to think it was a funny movie about a nerd in over his head trying to manage a rock star, Russell Brand, but after going to rehab an going down this journey of addiction, recovery, relapse, recovery....with my WS I now understand the movie was about a addict, Russell, hitting rock bottom and becoming sober with tough love.

I wish I could empathize but I dont understand but he gave a really in depth description to help some of us loved ones understand even a little.

As the wife of an addict I so needed to read that article. I am also going to fwd it to WS. i think it may give him some encouragement in his journey toward long term sobriety

Its an amazing documentary - if anyone is interested here it is in full.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKCwcP7A-RE

My father was a hopeless addict - X is a functioning addict ATM, heading down the path of hopeless unfortunately.

I saw it late last year. I found the documentary very confronting and yet comforting all at the same time. It is a health issue - a mental health issue. I could no more help my husband than I could help my father.

There's nothing I can do for either except protect myself and my girls.

He's an actor. I think he's annoying as hell.

HOWEVER - I did read the article and I'm glad I did. I also printed it out to give to a certain someone, if she'll read it.