Compared to Snookie and JWoww and other guidettes, you probably wouldn't picture a princess next to a fist pumping kid from the Shore. But this week's episode has new little smitten.
In an odd break from all the smushing, and pranking, and tanning and being completely shit-faced, Vinny decided he needed to leave the Shore, and get a hold of his anxiety again.
That hour on Thursday nights is never anything but mindless, hilarious entertainment, but I found myself in awe this time. While the rest of the house went out for the night, Vinny confessed to Pauly that he'd been diagnosed with clinical anxiety a while ago, and that it wasn't safe to keep trying to ignore it. And that ladies and gents, is a real man.
It was a little surreal to hear someone, someone famous who seemed to lead an ideal life, describe feeling the exact way I've felt. If you've ever googled anxiety, or been lucky enough to spend time with a therapist, you know that you're not the only one who's suffering (around 19 million are diagnosed in the States every year), but it makes sub a difference to hear someone else say it all out loud.
And? He stopped drinking! He wasn't a raging alcoholic by any means, but when everyone else that you live with insists on being wasted at some point each day..when that's the cool, easy thing to do, when you're basically getting paid to party..it's not easy to say no. I liked that they pointed that out. Makes sober kids like me feel a little less un-cool.
You don't have to know someone personally, to be proud of them. I'm proud of him! And inspired. To know that he's been dealing with this the entire time that he's been this happy, hilarious character on TV, gives me hope. And fits right in with my fearless outlook on 2012! I'll never be immune to anxiety, or even a major relapse, but it is entirely possible to live a happy, successful, seemingly normal life, despite all the attacks I've endured over the last few years. And that, is pretty neat, no?
Of course not everyone was as impressed by the candid episode, as I was. He tweeted a few things about the episode, and some of the replies that he got, left me dumbfounded...
"@VINNYGUADAGINO, are you sure it doesn't make anxious? Make you want to go home to your mom instead of make 100kan episode to party? #baby" -@TiceStar
I'm always amazed, because perhaps I'm still slightly naive, by how cruel, and STUPID other people can be. We get made fun of for admitting to our true sexuality, we get made fun of for they way we look, and we get made fun of for admitting that we aren't currently strong enough to do something on our own. It's hard to remember that no one knows you well enough to truly judge you, but that's what needs to be remembered. Plus, you can't really take it to heart, when the insulter has no concept of proper English.
Nonetheless. After so many discussions about pickles, and hating The Situation, and too many crotch shots, whoever thought I'd be honestly inspired while watching this show?
For more information on Vinny's story, and a pretty brilliant program that he's become involved with, visit: http://www.halfofus.com/default_splash.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment