Matt Willis -Facing Addiction

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

Anyone else watch this, it was really good? It's on iPlayer.

I had no idea how many times he'd relapsed,poor bloke. Can't help thinking going on tour probably isn't a good idea, hope he's going to be ok. With the best will in the world being in a situation where you used all the time is going to be massively triggering.

I've never really liked Emma , always thought she was a bit fake, totally changed my mind , she's clearly been slapping a smile on her face and keeping the family together.

So much respect for both of them for being so open and transparent.

And being completely shallow Matt is completely rocking the beard !

I left. My MH has never fully recovered. It also impacts physically in the end too. Your body just isn’t designed to live under those levels of stress long term.

I thought it was a good and powerful documentary.

I hope the tour doesn't prove Matt's undoing. The laughter with Charlie over drunken antics in the past, coupled with the knowledge that at least one rider (Charlie's, but not to mention those of the support acts/tour crew) features alcohol doesn't bode too well.

I thought it made good points about using addictive substances to block pain and trauma from childhood. That's my situation. I'm recovering, but the history that sparked it will always be there with fresh stabs.

It was heartbreaking to see the effect on Emma. She obviously loves him very much, but I hope that she can get some more support for herself too.

It wasn't an easy watch, but I thought it was well-made and raised issues that need airing. If it helps even one person, that will be a good thing.

I LONG for an edit button 🙄

Ohhh Emma

LTB

I couldn't help but think that it was perhaps a shame he did manage to complete rehab just prior to their wedding. If he hadn't, maybe she'd have seen it as a pretty clear picture of what the future held and called things off.

Charlie is an arse.

The fact he requires so much alcohol a night on tour suggest he has an issue himself and won't want to be drinking alone.

I suspect the Tour will be Matt's downfall.
Hope not, but it doesn't look good does it.

Unless he deals with the childhood trauma nothing will change but he would rather use his addictions to block it out.

You'd think he'd want to give his own children the Dad he never had.

I predict Matt will relapse with very little effort on this tour. I think this because addicts lock themselves into their own little world and refuse to allow “consequences” to play any part in their decision making. There is no future and any thought they do give to it it is along the lines of “well I’ll sort that out when I have to”. He will be in a perfect little bubble of good times & hedonism, with none of the things that keep him anchored right now - Emma, children, home and routine - to depend on. I hope I am wrong though.

Emma has wasted her life with this man.

My whole family are alcoholics. When my Mum died in 2019 it was the best thing she could have done for me. It was release and relief.

Matt has relapsed too many times. He’s never going to get out of this cycle. And he knows Emma will never leave so he has no incentive to.

He seems to have insight now and has managed long periods of sobriety in between. I agree touring is very high risk for him but let’s see.

I don't think she's going anywhere,they've been together 18 years.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor but it isn't a romantic story. Loyal wife and mother stands by her man..Matt is an addict - The documentary was all from his perspective, it was all about him and his needs. Emma looked exhausted.

I'm very aware it isn't a romantic love story,not sure I implied that at all. I just think for whatever reason she either turns a blind eye or puts up with his behaviour. It's been 18 years, I honestly doy think she'll leave.

People leave after 50 years together nothings guaranteed

It was a well made film but why would anyone in it agree to do it ?
they were all very likeable but so are most of the alcoholics I’ve met.
I also thought the family breakfast scene looked fake .
The problem with alcoholism is it turns a person into a liar and it’s very hard to come back from that.

Yep. I think also as women hit their late 40s (Emma is 47 so a similar age to me) oestrogen declines which tends to be the “caring hormone” and we tend to just get tired of everyone’s shit. You start to realise life is too short and you start to feel like you want to put yourself first. It’s not a coincidence that many older women choose to live alone (or with cats). You end up just wanting a peaceful life. I think that’s actually a lot of why she was so, so emotional throughout the programme. It was all just coming to the surface and causing her to reevaluate things. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if she’s planning to leave him.

She must get something out of the relationship or she wouldn't be there. It's not like she's strapped for money and isn't in a position to go.

I was really surprised to see the physical toll it had taken on her. She is still and drop dead gorgeous woman but she really looked physically worn down and depleted.

Maybe he would have reached rock bottom and completely straightened himself out had she left him. It sounds like victim-blaming and I don't mean it that way, but she has been his enabler for years.

@Fourpeasinapodcast

Really? Crikey. Ok
Then

I think she has quite possibly been his enabler. I think she was 32 when they got married and he was 25. I don't know how long they went out before but I am guessing that going out with a 23yr old when you are 30 is quite an odd dynamic - especially if is in Busted, drinking, taking drugs..she has been 'looking after him' for a long time.

Emma said in the documentary that she's been asked why she doesn't leave and she said leaving is not an option as she loves him so dearly. I wonder how much more she can take as she looks so worn down by it all. I dread to think of all the awful behaviour by him every time he relapses and the fact they admitted the children had seen him when he's like that is very very sad.

I would imagine she doesn’t want to leave because of the children. She wants to provide them with stability. And that’s what she thinks she is doing. I would imagine she feels that if she leaves he would absolutely relapse and that would be far worse for the children than the current set up. I have no doubt she loves him, but sometimes loving someone is not enough. It’s a huge sacrifice of your own mental health and energy.

I also imagine it's easier to live with an addict in a huge house with money than it is to be in a 2 bed flat with kids. Easier to separate yourself a bit emotionally and physically and have a separate life,possibly makes it easier to stay.

She needs to leave him BECAUSE of the children! Children brought up in alcoholic homes are seriously affected by it.

As I know more than most, believe me…!