How Matthew Perry struggled with substance abuse and anxiety: Tips to combat them

What most people don't know about Matthew Perry is that behind the cool demeanor of his character Chandler Bing, there was a person battling with drug abuse, alcohol addiction and anxiety. So, is there any connection between substance abuse and anxiety? And how can one combat it?

By: Lifestyle Desk

New Delhi | Updated: October 31, 2023 05:55 PM IST

4 min read

Friends actor Matthew Perry passed away at the age of 54.

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Matthew Perry — the beloved Friends actor — has sadly passed away at the age of 54, leaving the world in mourning. He was discovered unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. However, what most people don’t know about Perry is that behind the cool demeanor of his character Chandler Bing, there was a person battling with drug abuse, alcohol addiction and anxiety.

In 1997, Perry became addicted to the pain medication Vicodin after a jet ski accident, known for its addictive properties. Over the next three years, he grappled with drug and alcohol addiction — resulting in fluctuations in his weight — noticeable even on the set of Friends. In 2001, he sought rehab, this time for an addiction to Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines, and alcohol.

When Perry later opened up about his battle with substance abuse, he revealed that he couldn’t recall three years of his life from the ’90s and early 2000s. He admitted to not remembering three seasons of working on Friends due to the toll substance abuse had taken on him.

Apart from this, Perry also faced anxiety while filming Friends. During the reunion special episode in 2021, he confessed to feeling like he was experiencing a near-death encounter every single night while playing the role of Chandler in front of a live studio audience.

“To me, I felt like I was going to die if they didn’t laugh,” he said. “And it’s not healthy for sure, but I would sometimes say a line and they wouldn’t laugh, and I would sweat and just go into convulsions if I didn’t get the laugh I was supposed to get. I would freak out.”

Is there a connection between substance abuse and anxiety?

Research indicates an intimate connection between anxiety disorders and substance abuse. Recent studies have shed light on the molecular underpinnings of anxiety disorders and how alcohol affects brain neurochemistry, explaining this close relationship.

The American Journal of Psychiatry also notes that individuals with anxiety often turn to recreational drugs, primarily alcohol, to alleviate their symptoms. The low cost and widespread availability of alcohol make it a common choice for self-medication to address anxiety disorders, low mood, and sleep problems. Prospective studies indicate a reciprocal causal relationship between alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders over time, with anxiety disorders leading to alcohol dependence and vice versa.

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How to combat substance abuse and alcohol addiction

In a previous interview with indianexpress.com, Dr Kedar Tilwe, consultant psychiatrist, said that alcohol is a known panicogen, known for worsening and triggering anxiety. He pointed out that alcohol may initially provide relief when someone is feeling down, but as the quantity increases, it can slow down brain activity and lead to central nervous system suppression, resulting in symptoms such as loss of coordination, slurred speech, stupor, and coma.

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Therefore, complete abstinence from alcohol is recommended. Dr Tilwe suggested that motivational intervening may help improve a person’s level of motivation in reducing or quitting. “Additionally, medication can help with withdrawal effects, and anti-craving medications can help with craving reduction.”

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