Recovering from addiction, whether it’s a substance abuse problem or an addiction to something else, is a long journey. There are many aspects of the recovery process that can make this difficult to undertake, including physical and mental health issues. To stay relaxed but also prevent boredom, watching a moving could be just the right choice. Take a look at our pick of the top 6 movies to watch during addiction recovery.
Why is watching a movie a good choice during addiction recovery?
Most people love to watch movies they can relate to. When it comes to addiction recovery, watching real stories on the big screen can be inspiring. Even though some of the movies on our list are everything but “a lemonade,” there’s a good reason to watch them, especially with a member of a support group. Whether you are the one battling the addiction or helping a family member recover, pay attention to the following movies.
Ray
Ray is a biographical film about the life of musician Ray Charles, who struggled with addiction and alcoholism. The movie shows how he was able to overcome his addictions, but it also highlights how many times he fell back into his former habits. It can be a good reminder that you are not alone in your struggle and that there is hope for recovery if you seek help and treatment.
Empire Records
Empire Records is a 1995 film about a group of employees at a music store in the mid-90s. While their lives may not seem like anything special at first glance, these characters’ struggles are relatable and will give you an honest look at what it’s like to be young, broke, and in love with your best friends. The movie follows them through their last day before the store closes down for good – which also happens to be Record Store Day.
Requiem for a Dream
Requiem for a Dream is a movie about drug addiction, but it’s not just about the highs. The film follows four characters as they struggle to kick their habits and find happiness. It shows how addiction takes over your life, even when you try to fight back – and you’ll see that no matter how much someone loves you, they can’t beat this disease alone.
The movie also reminds us of the importance of community in recovery: it shows how support from people who’ve been there and done that can be vital to your success. As one character says near the end of Requiem for a Dream: “It’s not always so easy to turn away from what we love.”
Leaving Las Vegas
Leaving Las Vegas is a 1992 film directed by Mike Figgis, starring Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, and Jeremy Blackman. Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of an alcoholic writer who moves to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. It’s a touching movie about addiction recovery and worth watching if you’re interested in learning more about this topic.
Trainspotting
Trainspotting is a 1996 British film directed by Danny Boyle and written by John Hodge, based on Irvine Welsh’s novel of the same name. It tells the story of Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor), an addict who tries to quit heroin with little success. He’s joined by his friends: Spud (Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), and Begbie (Robert Carlyle).
The movie is darkly comic but also deals with some serious issues, such as drug abuse and addiction recovery. As dark as this movie is, it’s a good way to get a real perspective on drug abuse. If you or your loved one is battling this addiction, make sure to get professional help and read more about the recovery process.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 movie based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson. The film follows journalist Raoul Duke (played by Johnny Depp), who journeys to Las Vegas with his lawyer Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race for Sports Illustrated magazine. On their way, they take large doses of drugs such as cocaine, mescaline, and ether; this eventually leads to hallucinations that make them lose their sanity for several days.
By watching this movie during your recovery process, you will realize that there is no need for you to resort to drug abuse for your life to be happy or more exciting. You can still have fun even without using drugs! Even though it’s not an easy movie to watch, it can also be a guide to aftercare for your recovery.
Movies can be an inspiration to someone recovering from addiction
One of the hardest parts about recovery is having to confront your addiction and go through the tough process of overcoming it. But movies can be an inspiration to someone recovering from addiction and a good distraction from it. Watching a movie is also a great way to spend time with friends and have quality time together. Moreover, socializing is a very important part of addiction recovery. It is proven that social support network has a lot to do with the success of someone’s recovery after battling addiction.
If you’re struggling with an addiction, you probably know what it’s like to feel pulled in one direction or another – usually toward your habit. Movies offer an escape from this pull and give us something else to think about beyond our addictions, which can help us regain perspective on why we want to change our lives for good and give us hope that there are better things out there worth fighting for.
Movies also help us learn about other people who have overcome similar struggles as ours and stay on the right track. They show us that we’re not alone in how we feel or how hard it is when making changes starts becoming more difficult than expected. And while there aren’t many movies out there specifically about overcoming drug addictions (yet), most films featuring characters struggling with their demons will give viewers insight into what goes on inside someone’s head when they’re trying too hard to resist temptation – even if those temptations aren’t related directly back towards drug use itself!
Conclusion
These are the top 6 movies to watch during addiction recovery. They are all great but different in their way. We hope that you have enjoyed our list, and we wish you a happy movie-watching experience!