I’m so glad that Hannah didn’t use on Chicago Med.
Too many instances, dependancy is portrayed on TV as one thing that comes up swiftly, rendering the individual helpless in order that they haven’t any alternative however to provide in, even after years of sobriety.
That’s not precisely the way it works, and I’m grateful that Chicago Med is writing about Hannah’s psychological well being points extra sensitively than that.
Why It’s So Essential That Hannah’s Psychological Well being Points Are Depicted Appropriately
I typically get pissed off with how tv portrays dependancy and different psychological well being points.
These points have an effect on real-life folks, and it isn’t okay when TV exhibits promote dangerous stereotypes or misinformation.
Individuals SHOULDN’T base life selections on what occurs on TV, however the truth is all of us get a few of our concepts about how the world works from watching our favourite exhibits, typically with out realizing it.
When exhibits like Chicago Med get it proper, they positively have an effect on the viewers in methods they could by no means know.
Individuals could be impressed to ask for assist or really feel much less alone as a result of they see themselves in a fictional character.
How Chicago Med Acquired Hannah’s Psychological Well being Points Proper
Med did a near-perfect job of exhibiting the opposite psychological well being struggles that had been behind Hannah’s temptation to make use of.
Over the previous a number of episodes, Hannah has been heading towards a disaster, and never simply because Eloise died.
That was one in every of 1,000,000 methods her life seemed to be unraveling, together with her relationship with Ripley falling aside, Lenox questioning whether or not the ED actually wanted a full-time OBGYN, and Eloise’s refusal to belief her even earlier than the tragic occasions.
Hannah’s downward spiral was written rigorously, with one factor constructing on prime of one other and previous trauma or detrimental occasions contributing to the alternatives she made.
For instance, her want to guard Ripley from self-destructive impulses might need come from her information of what she did to herself when she was in energetic dependancy and wanting to make sure nobody else made comparable errors.
This strategy labored as a result of it prevented drained TV tropes about how psychological well being crises work, as an alternative constructing upon Hannah’s previous, her constructive intentions within the current, and her frustration at not being heard.
Issues reached a boiling level when Eloise died, with Hannah attempting for almost an hour to resuscitate her after which spiraling down into guilt and disgrace over her incapability to avoid wasting this lady.
The aftermath was equally properly accomplished. Hannah is the one TV character I can consider offhand who dealt with a possible relapse into addictive habits by looking for assist as an alternative of giving within the second the urge hit.
Hannah’s Psychological Well being Points Have been Extra Than A Plot Level
Habit is a vital psychological well being challenge that usually stems from unresolved trauma, nevertheless it’s additionally too simple to make use of it in tales for the sake of drama.
The way in which alcohol and different medication change folks can result in highly effective storylines, and that’s why some exhibits soar rapidly to characters being in full-blown, energetic dependancy after having been sober for years.
Fortunately, Chicago Med didn’t try this. Hannah’s psychological well being points have by no means been there for the only real objective of shifting the plot ahead.
Writing her points so thoughtfully and realistically has the facet impact of sending an essential message about dependancy.
It’s too simple to see an individual’s dependancy downside — or any psychological well being downside, actually, because the sum complete of who they’re.
However Hannah has by no means been written that method, and as somebody who misplaced a beloved one to dependancy, I’m grateful.
Hannah’s psychological well being points are part of her, however she’s at all times been written as an individual first, somebody who occurs to have the flaw of getting succumbed to temptation together with her dependancy previously.
Chicago Med has at all times been cautious to make her well-rounded.
Even earlier than she received sober, she was attempting her greatest, though it wasn’t a good suggestion for her to attempt to apply drugs whereas frequently getting excessive.
Afterward, she turned dedicated to constructing a greater life than the one she’d had up to now, wished to assist others heal, and was concerned in much more than the battle to remain sober.
That makes her one badass lady.
It’s not simple to make one thing constructive out of your life when you need to dwell with the ache of figuring out what you’ve accomplished to your self previously and the temptation to do it once more to keep away from that ache.
Hannah’s psychological well being points don’t cease her from shifting ahead the best way they’d on so many exhibits, and that’s what I like most.
She’s a survivor. She’s conscious she has selections, and her hanging in there and doing the work she must do to guard her sobriety is inspiring.
It additionally destigmatizes dependancy and different psychological well being points, sending the sturdy message that having one of these downside doesn’t imply you might be irrevocably damaged, destined for a foul life stuffed with horrible selections, or any of the opposite lies folks inform themselves as a result of they’ve these points.
I want extra exhibits would promote that sort of social messaging, and I’m grateful to the Chicago Med writers and to Jessy Schram for letting Hannah’s humanity shine by each scene she’s in.
Over to you, Chicago Med fanatics!
How do you are feeling about the best way Med handles Hannah’s psychological well being points?
Hit the feedback together with your ideas.
Chicago Med airs on NBC on Wednesdays at 8/7c and on Peacock on Thursdays.
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