In a deeply honest and revealing interview, beloved actor Matthew Perry revealed the harrowing struggles he faced in his battle with drugs and alcohol. Perry, known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the hit series Friends, opened up about his personal demons and gave a raw account of his journey to recovery in a candid interview with People magazine and in his new memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Bad Thing.”
Perry’s autobiography begins with a startling confession: at the age of 49, he found himself on the brink of death due to serious addiction problems. A few years ago, his life turned into a terrifying ordeal. Narcotic abuse took a devastating toll on his health. His colon ruptured and Perry was left fighting for his life in a coma for several weeks. The ensuing road to recovery was grueling, spending five months in hospital and another nine dealing with colostomy bag issues.
The actor’s chances of survival were alarmingly slim. Perry revealed that doctors gave him just a 2% chance of making it. To keep him alive, he was placed on an ECMO machine, a last-ditch effort akin to the Hail Mary of the medical world. Perry reflected on the gravity of the situation and acknowledged, “Nobody’s going to beat that.”
Matthew provided more information about his life in his latest memoir.
For many years he portrayed Chandler Bing in the famous sitcom, he struggled with alcoholism.
There will be long periods of sobriety, according to Matthew, who said he thinks he can handle it.
But he later admitted to losing weight and taking 55 Vicodins a day, dropping to 128 pounds.
The man admitted: “I didn’t know how to stop.” If the cops came to my house and threatened to put me in jail if I drank tonight, I’d start packing. I was unable to quit as the disease and addiction progressed over time. Therefore, it only gets worse with age.
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According to Matthew LeBlanc, actors David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Matthew LeBlanc were “understanding and patient,” but in the end, he could only help himself.
Although he still struggles with his issues and has been to rehab at least 15 times, he revealed to People that he is “very healthy now.” I’ve had to stop going to the gym a lot more because I don’t want to totally play superheroes, he joked. But no, I’m actually in pretty decent shape right now.
The actor said: “It’s vital, but losing your sobriety doesn’t mean you lose all that time and education. I’m not sure how long I’ve been clean at this point.”
The only thing that changes is your sober date; everything else remains the same. You retain everything you previously learned as long as you are able to fight your way back without dying.
Perry now has 14 surgical scars on his stomach as a permanent reminder of his journey. He quipped, “That’s a lot of reminders to be sober. I just have to look down.” These scars serve as proof of his strength and resilience.
Matthew Perry is now focused on helping others and believes sharing his story can make a difference. He shared a deeply moving fact: the night he was placed on ECMO, he was one of five patients. A staggering statistic shows that he was the only survivor. Perry meekly pondered, “So, why is the key question? Why was I chosen? There must be some motive. I’m a really grateful guy.”
Perry’s gratitude truly shines through every word of his interview. He expressed deep gratitude for the gift of life and the freedom it brings, allowing him to live life on his own terms. His courageous journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the possibility of redemption even in the darkest of times. Matthew Perry’s story is a reminder that with determination and support, even the most formidable challenges can be overcome.