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Chiara De Blasio Talks Substance Abuse On xoJane
By
Lauren Evans
Published May 6, 2014
Modified May 6, 2014
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By
Lauren Evans
Published May 6, 2014
Modified May 6, 2014
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Mayor de Blasio's eldest celebrated child has landed a regular column on xoJane, a website that focuses on allowing women to be their "unabashed selves." (Currently leading the homepage: "45 Percent Of Men Orgasm In Under Two Minutes And I'm Totally OK With That." (Subhed: "I don't want some dude slamming his junk inside of me for hours.")
This is the forum on which Chiara de Blasio has opted to reveal a more in-depth look at her struggle with depression and substance abuse—though so far, she's declined to divulge the types of sordid details so cherished by the website of record. Is it ironic that Chiara is sharing her story on the same pages that Cat Marnell once graphically chronicled her long-term love affair with angel dust? Or is it fitting, proving again that there is no template for talking about addiction or drug use?
In any case, Chiara is not Marnell, and restrictions on her literary freedom have almost certainly been handed down from what must be the mayor's very nervous press arm. (Chiara mentions several times, under no uncertain terms, that her family has been nothing but unconditionally loving and supportive.) She bypasses the typical xoJane fare by excluding specifics on her substances of choice, though as she famously revealed during her father's campaign, she has sought treatment for "depression and drug and alcohol abuse over the past year."
Opting not to include salacious scenes from her life as an addict does not diminish Chiara's story—her writing is frank and poignant, the revelations somewhat surprising from someone who publicly seems to exude such joy.
"I was surrounded by love, but I always felt less-than, out-of-place, restless, irritable, and discontent," she writes. "I was not born a happy person."
"Some people believe that it is impossible for people who come from backgrounds like mine to suffer from the diseases of depression and addiction," she goes on. "I am here to tell you that that is not true -- 10 percent external conditions. Mental illness does not discriminate." Still, the column concludes on a positive note. She acknowledges that hers will be a "lifelong battle," but "it’s progress -- not perfection -- that’s important."
The column is the first in a series, though editor Emily McCombs tells us that the frequency of Chiara's writing will depend on her schedule.
Tagged
addiction
alcohol abuse
chiara de blasio
xojane
Lauren Evans
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