Meherrin Stevens-Garcia, Freshman
Just like the characters of Euphoria, many teens also struggle with mental health.
Sam Levinson, the writer of Euphoria says, “I struggled with drug addiction when I was younger, so I was talking about that, what our struggles were growing up and a little about the Israeli show,” he recounted. The show Euphoria gives people insight into what some teens go through such as toxic relationships, mental health, and losing loved ones. Many agree, one saying, “The second season of Sam Levinson’s drug-fueled series is best left to those who can relate to the Gen Z characters.” Many, especially teens, find this show relatable because of its similarities to many teens around the world.
The main character, Rue, played by Zendaya, experiences drug addiction. This affects her and especially her family and the people around her throughout the series. For example, Rue does not have a great relationship with her little sister Gia or her mother. In season 2, episode 5 called “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird,” Rue gets out of control and treats her family very poorly. She finds out that her mother disposed of her drugs and gets extremely upset. Rue’s mother, Leslie, played by Nika King, loves her daughter very much and wishes she would stay sober. Some teens also struggle with drug addiction, just like Rue, and Euphoria shows that they're not alone. People who are struggling with drug addiction can reach the SAMHSA national helpline, 800-662-4357.
Along with drug addiction, teens also struggle with mental illness. Just like Rue, the storyline shows that Rue struggles with anxiety, OCD, depression, and bipolar disorder. Jules, played by Hunter Schaefer, is a very important person to Rue’s struggle with OCD and bipolar disorder. The majority of the cast struggle with different types of mental illness. For example, in season 1, episode 7, “The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed,” Rue struggles with depression. In this episode she says, “The absolute worst part of depression is even though you know you’re depressed, you're unable to stop yourself from getting worse.” While she is in a depressive episode, she binge-watches 22 episodes of a British reality show. She explains how being depressed can not only affect someone mentally, but also physically. Rue explains how hard it is for her to get out of her bed to do a simple task such as using the bathroom, which leads her to a kidney infection.
In this episode Rue also says, “The other thing about depression is it kind of collapses time. Suddenly, you find your whole day blending together to create one endless and suffocation loop. So you try to remember the things that made you happy. But, slowly, your brain begins to erase every memory that ever brought you joy. And, eventually all you can think about is how life has always been this way. And will only continue to be this way.” This quote itself shows how hard it is to struggle with depression and explains how someone with this mental illness feels. This mental illness along with many others are played out in the show, showing how hard it can be living with a mental illness. People who are struggling with mental illness can reach out to a trusted adult or call The National Alliance on Mental Health at 800-950-NAMI for help.
Many interviews note how much people enjoy the show Euphoria because they can compare their own experiences to what they’re seeing in this program. People can get some gratification when they’re engaging with this show, they end up feeling better about themselves. By watching a character go through a similar struggle, people, especially teens, can feel like they’re less alone.
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