Between Breaths

Between Breaths is veteran news anchor Elizabeth Vargas's memoir about her struggles with anxiety and alcohol addiction while maintaining a high-profile television career. She traces her anxiety back to childhood experiences and follows its progression alongside her rise in broadcast journalism. The book details Vargas's attempts to keep her drinking hidden from colleagues at ABC News, where she co-anchored 20/20 and World News Tonight. She recounts her path through denial, multiple rehab stays, and the impact of her addiction on her marriage and two sons. Through her personal story, Vargas examines the connections between anxiety disorders and alcoholism, while highlighting the particular challenges faced by women who battle addiction. The memoir offers perspective on how high-functioning alcoholics maintain outward success while privately spiraling, and explores the role of both genetic and environmental factors in addiction.

Readers appreciate Vargas's raw honesty about her alcoholism and anxiety struggles, with many noting her detailed accounts of hiding addiction while maintaining a high-profile TV career. Multiple reviewers connected with her descriptions of using alcohol to cope with panic attacks. Readers liked: - Clear, straightforward writing style - Balance of personal story with addiction information - Insights into TV news industry - Relatable experiences for others with anxiety Readers disliked: - Some sections feel repetitive - Limited depth on recovery process - Focus on career achievements over addiction details - Wanted more about impact on her children Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,100+ ratings) "She doesn't sugar-coat her mistakes or make excuses," noted one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review criticized: "The last third felt rushed compared to earlier chapters." Several readers mentioned the book helped them recognize their own problematic drinking patterns.

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🎯 Elizabeth Vargas spent 20+ years hiding her anxiety and alcoholism while anchoring ABC News programs, including "20/20" and "World News Tonight" 📺 Her first panic attack occurred on live television early in her career while anchoring a local news broadcast in Chicago 🌟 The book's title "Between Breaths" refers to the space between panic attacks, where Vargas felt she was always waiting for the next one to strike 🏥 Vargas attended rehab multiple times between 2013-2014, during which she continued to work at ABC News while keeping her struggle private 💪 Following the book's publication in 2016, Vargas became a vocal advocate for mental health awareness and partnered with organizations like the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI)