Drugs made me feel more normal

Drugs made me feel more normal

Carrie Fisher, best known for her iconic role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, was also a fierce advocate for mental health awareness and addiction recovery. Throughout her life, Fisher struggled with bipolar disorder and substance abuse, openly sharing her experiences in order to break the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Fisher was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her early twenties and turned to drugs as a way to cope with the extreme highs and lows of the disorder. In her memoir, "Wishful Drinking," Fisher candidly discussed her struggles with addiction, describing how drugs initially made her feel more normal. She wrote, "Drugs made me feel more normal. They contained me."

For Fisher, drugs provided a temporary escape from the overwhelming emotions and erratic behavior that often accompanied her bipolar disorder. They allowed her to numb the pain and chaos that she experienced on a daily basis, providing a sense of relief and control that she struggled to find elsewhere.

However, Fisher's reliance on drugs ultimately led to a downward spiral of addiction and self-destruction. She entered rehab multiple times in an attempt to overcome her substance abuse issues, but the cycle of addiction proved difficult to break. Despite her struggles, Fisher remained determined to confront her demons and find a path to recovery.