Madison De La Garza, recognized for her role as Juanita Solis on "Desperate Housewives," has publicly shared her journey of recovery from substance abuse, marking a significant turn in her life. From facing harsh criticism as a child actress to becoming an advocate for sobriety, De La Garza's story is one of resilience, growth, and the power of familial support.
Early Exposure to Cyberbullying
De La Garza's early career began at the age of six when she was cast in "Desperate Housewives." However, this exposure also brought her face-to-face with the dark side of fame: cyberbullying. She recalls being targeted with cruel comments about her appearance, which led to anxiety and an eating disorder. "The reactions were just shocking," De La Garza told Entertainment Weekly. "It was just horrible, like, ‘ugly fat cow,’ and ‘I hope you get cancer and die because you’re so fat,'" she recalled, admitting that she would sneak online as she wasn't allowed to go on the computer.
Adding to the difficulty was the fact that her weight was a plot point on the satirical dramedy. "This was talked about literally in the script of the show," she said of her weight.
Battling Addiction
As she grew older, De La Garza's struggles deepened, leading to substance abuse. She openly discussed using marijuana heavily for years, describing it as her "best friend" and "biggest obsession." She recognized that she was turning down opportunities and isolating herself. "I spent, I like to say it was weeks, but in reality, it was more like months alone in my bedroom because I was ashamed of how much I was using," she said.
She realized her reliance on substances was negatively impacting her relationships, especially with her mother, Dianna De La Garza, who she shares with her older half-sister, Demi Lovato. "When I realized it started to affect my relationship with not only my friends, but specifically my relationship with my mom, that’s when I knew I had to make a change,” the Dallas native explained.
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A Turning Point: Embracing Sobriety
Inspired by her mother, De La Garza committed to sobriety. She openly shared that she is 255 days into her "journey of recovery." The decision to get sober has brought about positive changes in her life. "I feel free," she said. "The world seems lighter and more colorful." She also noted that things are easier now that she's not "tied down to a substance," citing a recent trip to New York where she wasn't panicking about access to her "crutch."
De La Garza marked a massive achievement in her sobriety journey earlier this month, proudly stating she had gone "230 days" without succumbing to her addictions.
The Role of Family Support
De La Garza credits her older half-sister, Demi Lovato, for her achieving eight months of sobriety as part of her recovery journey. Lovato, who has been open about her struggles with addiction and mental health, has been a source of inspiration and support. "Just like how Demi’s life has been an example for me, now I get to be that example for other people, and I could not be happier," she said. "I’m grateful for that.”
Demi Lovato expressed regret for not being more protective of De La Garza when they were both on TV in the late 2000s. "At the time, I wish I had been a little bit more protective, to be honest. Because that role was, I think, really challenging for her at such a young age," she said. Some of that regret is tied to the way De La Garza's character's weight was often discussed on the show. "I do have a little bit of regret because I think it was a difficult role for her," Lovato said. "There was a lot of scrutiny in the show about her body and I hate that. But she's so strong and she's so amazing. She turned out so great and I'm so proud of her. She did incredible work on that show."
De La Garza said she now gets to be "that example for other people, and I could not be happier.
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Becoming an Advocate
Motivated by her own experiences, De La Garza is now dedicated to helping others struggling with addiction. "I have been helping people who are going through the same thing as I have," she said. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can inspire others to seek help and find freedom from substance abuse. "I have a lot of friends who looked to me and said, 'Hey, I'm gonna go get help, because I saw that you got help, and it changed your life. And I want that freedom that you have.'"
De La Garza decided to go public with her story to help others and to keep herself accountable. "They suggested that I do this not only to help others, but because they knew it would help keep me accountable. And I completely agreed," she said. "Because the more people that know that I have quit doing drugs, the more people I will be letting down if I decide to go back and relapse."
Addressing Misconceptions about Marijuana
De La Garza aims to dispel the misconception that marijuana is not addictive or as serious as other drugs. She emphasized that for some, like herself, it can become a significant problem. "People think that it’s not as serious as other drugs, and for a lot of people, I’m sure that is the case and they can use it every once in a while. I just was not one of those people," she explained. "It was my best friend. It was my crutch. It was my biggest obsession for a very long time, and I just always kept telling myself, 'Oh, it could be worse. I could be using harder things. I could be drinking very heavily.'"
She also highlighted the ease of access to marijuana, especially with the prevalence of vape pens, which can be legally purchased in many states.
Overcoming Anxiety and Eating Disorders
De La Garza openly discussed her struggles with anxiety and eating disorders, noting that marijuana use exacerbated her anxiety. "I definitely, I’ve had an anxiety disorder most of my life, but it definitely made it worse," she said. "Because I felt like if I wasn’t in a state of having that buzz from smoking, the anxiety was going to be ten times worse."
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She also revealed that she struggled with eating without marijuana, which led to a dangerous cycle of not eating for days. "If I wasn’t able to smoke, I lost all hope of eating. And I mean, I went days without eating because of that. It came to me very, very, very dangerous," she said. Fortunately, she was able to regain her appetite relatively quickly after quitting.
Advice for Others and Loved Ones
De La Garza shared valuable insights for those struggling with addiction and their loved ones. She emphasized the importance of a non-judgmental approach when offering help. "My mom came to me in a very non-judgmental, very non-panicked way. She wasn’t in tears. She wasn’t shaking nervous, she wasn’t angry. She kind of just sat me down and stated the facts and said, 'This is what I see, and I’m worried,'" she recalled.
She also advised against putting too much pressure on oneself, especially when sharing one's journey publicly. "The best piece of advice that Demi gave me is to not put so much pressure on yourself," she said. "And this is specific to us in our situation because we are doing this so publicly… is to not label yourself as this martyr of recovery. And to not feel all this pressure to be so perfect and always know what to say, always know exactly what to do."