Elizabeth Vargas’s memoir, Between Breaths, explores addiction and anxiety. Not Vargas’ usual platform, she turns the camera and spotlight on herself, inviting readers into her personal life. From every camera angle, she recounts the stark realities and inner struggles she faced. This is a must-read for anyone in a career field where there is an expected camera-ready, picture-perfect persona. Vargas does a beautiful job tearing down those walls to get to the heart.
A Dance with Honesty
Vargas, a renowned television journalist, is far more accustomed to being the interviewer than being the one in the hot seat. It takes a certain amount of bravery to put oneself out there in the way that she does. “Between Breaths” is a memoir that displays Vargas at her most vulnerable point, and it’s no less than inspiring.
Vargas masterfully tells her story, drawing readers into the turbulence of her life with a blend of raw emotion and grace. Her writing is both poignant and accessible, making it easy for readers to empathize with her journey. She doesn’t shy away from the darker moments, nor does she sugarcoat the challenges she faced. Instead, she lays it all bare, creating a tapestry of experiences that is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking.
The Whirlwind of Addiction
Vargas’s account of her battle with alcoholism is nothing short of compelling. She delves into the depths of her addiction with unflinching honesty, describing how it crept into her life and eventually took hold of her daily existence. The title, “Between Breaths,” is a fitting metaphor and perfectly titled book describing the suffocating grip of addiction and the fleeting moments of clarity and peace she experienced.
Her descriptions of the internal conflict and the constant tug-of-war between her professional facade and personal demons are both vivid and harrowing. It’s clear that Vargas’s intention is not just to tell her story but to shed light on the insidious nature of addiction and how it can affect anyone, regardless of their success or status.
An Odyssey Through Anxiety
Parallel to her struggle with alcoholism is Vargas’s battle with anxiety, an often invisible companion that exacerbated her addiction. She writes about her lifelong struggle with anxiety with a level of detail that brings readers into her mind, allowing them to feel the suffocating weight of her fears and the relentless pressure she placed on herself.
Vargas’s ability to articulate the complexities of anxiety is remarkable. She captures the paradox of appearing calm and composed on the outside while battling a storm within. This duality is a central theme in her memoir, highlighting the often-hidden nature of mental health struggles and the way one condition tends to eclipse the other. In Vargas’ case, there is no question she explained this concept very well.
A Continual Journey
Despite the darkness, “Between Breaths” is ultimately a story of setbacks becoming comebacks. Vargas takes readers through her journey to recovery, sharing the pivotal moments and the people who helped her along the way. Her path to sobriety is fraught with relapses and setbacks, but it is also marked by moments of profound self-discovery and growth.
Vargas’s writing is infused with a sense of hope that is both inspiring and uplifting. She doesn’t present recovery as a neat, one-size-fits-all process but rather as a cyclical journey marked with ups and downs. Her memoir serves as a call to action for those struggling, offering encouragement to stay the course and never give up.
Reflections
Throughout the memoir, Vargas’s reflections on her past, career, and family are filled with nostalgia and wisdom. She balances the heaviness of her experiences with light-hearted anecdotes and observations and recalls her lowest moment caught on camera.
Vargas’s ability to find moments of joy and laughter amidst the pain is a testament to her inner strength. As it’s been said, it’s far more about the recovery than the fall. I found her candor to be inspiring and freeing.
Conclusion
“Between Breaths” is one of the first Quit Lit books I personally ever read. I remember at the time thinking, “If she can tell her story as a newscaster on national TV, I can muster up the guts to tell mine.” Vargas emits endless bravery and unintentionally coaxes those on the fence about telling their own harrowing story to take a deep breath (pun intended) and do it. She set the stage for the rest of us and leveled the playing field. She deserves gratitude and praise.
In “Between Breaths,” Vargas not only chronicles her journey but also opens a window into the broader conversation about mental health and addiction. Her memoir is a testament to the power of honesty and courage. In “Between Breaths,” Vargas does a fantastic presentation of the cold, hard facts…showcasing that alcoholism is an equal-opportunity disease.
#QUITLIT Sobees Score: 3.5 out of 5
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1. What is Between Breaths by Elizabeth Vargas about?
Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction chronicles Vargas’s struggle with severe anxiety and alcohol addiction while working as a prominent television journalist. The book explores her journey through denial, rehab, relapse, and eventual recovery.
2. Who is Elizabeth Vargas?
Elizabeth Vargas is a longtime broadcast journalist and former ABC News anchor known for hosting programs like 20/20. She publicly shared her struggle with alcohol addiction and anxiety and later wrote Between Breaths about her experience.
3. Is Between Breaths a memoir or a recovery guide?
The book is a memoir. Vargas focuses on personal storytelling rather than providing a step-by-step recovery program, though readers may still find inspiration and insight in her journey.
4. What themes does Between Breaths explore?
The memoir explores anxiety, alcoholism, career pressure, shame, relapse, motherhood, and the courage required to seek help and rebuild a life in sobriety.
5. Why did Elizabeth Vargas start drinking?
According to Vargas, her alcohol use developed as a way to cope with debilitating anxiety and panic attacks that began in childhood and intensified throughout her demanding career.
6. Does Between Breaths discuss relapse?
Yes. Vargas writes honestly about relapse and multiple treatment attempts, highlighting the complex and often nonlinear path of recovery.
7. Who might benefit from reading Between Breaths?
The memoir resonates with readers interested in recovery stories, anxiety and mental health narratives, and anyone navigating high-pressure careers while struggling privately with addiction.
8. Is Between Breaths considered quit lit?
Yes. The book falls into the “quit lit” category — memoirs and nonfiction focused on addiction, recovery, and changing one’s relationship with alcohol.
9. What makes Between Breaths unique among addiction memoirs?
Vargas offers a rare look at addiction within the high-visibility world of broadcast journalism, showing how public success can mask deep personal struggles.
10. Where can readers find Between Breaths?
The book is widely available through bookstores, libraries, and online retailers in print, ebook, and audiobook formats.
