NEWSDr. Drew on Amber & Gary: "They're Traumatized"
Oct. 15 2010, Published 6:23 a.m. ET
Teen Mom audiences were shocked when Amber Portwood physically and verbally abused her boyfriend Gary Shirley on the Sept. 28 episode of MTV's controversial reality show. Later at the reunion show, Amber broke down crying watching her on-air outburst and admitted that she, too, grew up in a violent home. In this week's issue of OK!, Dr. Drew Pinsky weighs in on the troubled couple and whether or not they'll be able to break the volatile cycle.
After Amber viewed the clip of her assault, which has now resulted in a law enforcement investigation, she had a complete breakdown. "She started sobbing and said, 'My family was violent, and I can't stand to watch this. I can't believe that's me. What it was happening it didn't feel or look like that to me; now when I see it, it's the same thing all over again,' " recalls therapist and reunion show host Dr. Drew.
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Since the now epic episode aired, Amber has started attending counseling to deal with her anger issues and additional couples counseling has brought her closer to Gary again.
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While Dr. Drew places some hope in Amber and Gary's future, he calls them "a work in progress" and warns that the trouble is far from over.
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"People wonder why they just can't get their stuff together. Why can't they just stop it? Well that's not how trauma works," says Dr. Drew. "They're traumatized and they keep reenacting their childhood trauma. It affects them and everybody else around them."
FOR MORE ON AMBER & GARY'S ISSUES WITH THE LAW & EACH OTHER, PICK UP THIS WEEK'S ISSUE OF OK! — ON SALE EVERYWHERE NOW!
