Rene Graziano begins to essentially battle with drug abuse.
In an unique interview with Page Six “Virtual Real Tea,” the “Mob Wives” alum, 56, explains that she feels her dependancy isn’t to the unlawful substances, however moderately to the lads in her life, the facility that comes with fame and the ties to the mob that outline her path of life.
“Dependancy is a darkish world. I’ve by no means been hooked on medication. I used to be hooked on energy, I used to be hooked on males, I used to be hooked on my world, my lifestyle,” she says. “Medicine had been my solace. That stored me going [going].”
The truth star, who lately celebrated 9 months of sobriety near-fatal fentanyl overdose in 2023 — says she as soon as felt medication had been a “resolution” to the grief she felt from the 2019 demise of her father, Anthony Graziano, and the breakup of her marriage to ex-husband Hector Pagan Jr. , amongst different heartbreaking incidents.
“In some bizarre means… I believe generally self-medication stored me alive,” she admits. “As a result of I believe if I actually needed to undergo it with out remedy, I most likely would not have made it. That is the reality and I do not even like to speak like that.
Renee’s struggles with medication performed out within the later installments of “Mob Wives,” which ran for six seasons on VH1 from 2011 to 2016.
Her sister, Jennifer Graziano — the creator of the fact collection, who additionally joined the chat with “Digital Reali-Tea” — says the state of affairs is troubling, however not shocking since Renee had been utilizing on and off for years at this level.
“It has been like that our complete life… At that time I used to be virtually resistant to him and I used to be numb to him,” Jennifer, 52, shared.
Renee claims that nobody is guilty for her drug issues.
“I can not blame anybody for my dependancy. I can not I want to. I believe my ex-husband has a hand in it, I believe my life-style has a hand in it,” she says. “However on the finish of the day, it is my accountability to take or to not take one thing. I am very clear on that half.”
All of the whereas, Renee says she’s made a aware effort to provide viewers a glance into the darkest corners of her life — principally for the enhancement of Mob Wives and her sibling’s careers within the unscripted area.
“My loyalty has by no means come first for me. So if it meant realizing that my sister would advance in her profession, that was extra necessary to me than anything,” she says.
“If I might have been extra true to myself, I would not have performed the issues I did, I would not have stated the issues I did, I would not have acted the way in which I did, I would not have attacked the individuals I verbally assaulted .
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Irrespective of how outrageous her habits was, Renee says she “by no means faked” something on digital camera.
“No matter I did was actually taking place. I did not faux something,” she says. “I’ve not hidden something. I ought to have [hidden] far more.”
Over time, Jennifer got here to understand Renee for dwelling her life out loud on Mob Wives.
“She let all of it go, and I agree she did plenty of that for me,” she says.
The sisters will unpack extra of their experiences on and off actuality TV in two new podcasts launching September 18.
Renee’s challenge is titled “Crysis Queen,” a deep dive into the trauma she reworked into triumph, whereas Jennifer’s “Straightened Out” will give “Mob Wives” followers a greater understanding of the drama that occurred throughout of the manufacturing.
“Crysis Queen is a protected place for individuals to speak about their trauma. I do not wish to trivialize your trauma, I wish to make it lighter,” Renee says. “I need individuals to know that they don’t seem to be alone. I am nonetheless therapeutic. It’s an everlasting course of.”
As for Jennifer, she’s able to spill the tea on probably the most memorable Mob Wives moments.
“‘Upright’ is a time period that’s synonymous with the mob.” We use puns, however easy out the drama and inform the reality,” she teased. “We’re additionally speaking about different actuality exhibits. We get into every part.”