Jaimie Alexander Says Near-Death Experience Led to Sobriety Journey

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Jaimie Alexander is sharing her perspective.

I was so moved when Jaimie Alexander recently opened up about her health battles. She shared that back in 2018, she had a really scary experience – her appendix burst, which led to sepsis and an emergency surgery. It was a huge wake-up call, and thankfully, she decided to prioritize her health and embrace a sober lifestyle after recovering. It’s incredibly inspiring to see her strength and honesty.

In a recent post, the 41-year-old described waking up after surgery feeling both cold and relieved. They explained it felt like the infection had been entirely cleared from their system.

The doctors warned me my condition was very serious and that I might have to stay in the hospital for weeks, possibly even months,” she said. “But I was certain I’d be home in just a few days.”

Jaimie shared that after a friend, who was in recovery, invited her to a 12-step meeting, she began to see her past near-death experience in a new light. This changed her whole outlook on what happened.

She realized that a difficult experience she once considered terrible actually turned out to be a positive turning point in her life. She felt she’d been given a fresh start and was grateful for the opportunity to embrace it.

She added, “It took almost dying for me to wake up and start living.”

For Jaimie, surviving her surgery felt like a fresh start in life.

“I really feel like there’s a reason I’m still here,” she said. “I was given another chance, and while I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with it, I’m determined to find out, no matter what happens.”

Jaimie shared a hopeful message for those struggling with addiction, emphasizing that no one should have to face their challenges by themselves.

If you’re going through a hard time – whether it’s struggling with addiction, facing a tough challenge, dealing with money problems, or experiencing heartbreak,

Jaimie wrote, “Or maybe you just feel completely overwhelmed by everything happening right now—please remember the strength you already possess inside. We all have it. You can find it in moments of peace and clarity. And with that strength, please don’t hesitate to ask for help.”

For more stars who have talked about their sobriety journeys, keep reading…

After the Backstreet Boys member relapsed in 2021, he noted he “got sober again for the last time.”

He told People magazine in July 2025 that he’s committed to staying on his current path. He described it as a daily effort, but shared that following advice from the recovery community has dramatically improved his life.

While AJ acknowledged he is “still learning, still growing,” he’s now confident in who he is.

I’ve been learning to set healthy boundaries, something I never did before, and it’s been really helpful. I also understand now that ‘AJ’ is just a public persona, a role I play, but it doesn’t change who I truly am – Alexander James.

In October 2018, the actor known for American Pie shared on Instagram that he had been sober for a year, marking the occasion with a positive and hopeful message.

He first attempted to stop drinking and using drugs more than five years ago, realizing his addiction had become overwhelming. He quickly discovered that getting sober was incredibly difficult.

Oh my gosh, he said he’s been sober for a YEAR! A whole year! I’m seriously tearing up just thinking about it. He said it wasn’t easy, there were definitely some tough moments, but he did it, and he’s so proud, and honestly, it makes me so incredibly proud of him too. And he was talking directly to anyone who’s struggling, saying there’s help out there and to not be ashamed. It was just…so powerful. He really believes we can all do this, and that just means the world.

Looking back on his battle with addiction, he thought about how far he’d gone to keep it a secret.

He recently shared on his wife Jenny Mollen’s podcast, All the Fails, that he was struggling with a difficult pattern: he’d attend a therapy session, feel good afterward, and then immediately go buy and drink a whole bottle of vodka before driving home. He admitted he used alcohol to disconnect from his feelings and avoid dealing with his life.

He explained that he’d carefully planned how much he’d drink, making sure he stayed coherent enough to talk. He mentioned he was constantly swapping out the bottles at the bar to control his alcohol intake.

 

The two-time World Cup-winning soccer player has publicly discussed using Adderall improperly while recovering from injuries she sustained in college.

Let me tell you, I went through a really tough time with Adderall. I became seriously addicted and was misusing it constantly. It got to the point where I was taking it all the time, barely sleeping for days on end. It was a really wild and dangerous period – I genuinely felt like I was pushing my body too far and risking my health. I wasn’t just taking it; I was crushing and snorting it, which, looking back, was incredibly problematic. It was a really difficult thing to overcome.

However, in the midst of her struggle, her college coach Anson Dorrance was there to support her.

She described a difficult time where she had to adapt significantly. Anson encouraged her to read, and she discovered the book Man’s Search for Meaning. It helped her understand and cope with suffering, and she said it profoundly changed her perspective on life.

In October 2025, Migos member Quavo revealed he had been sober from codeine—an opioid often mixed with soda to create the drink known as sizzurp—for four years. He credited a serious conversation with his teenage son, Jordan, as the turning point that led him to get clean.

Offset shared a story on the show Baby, This Is Keke Palmer about his son repeatedly asking for pineapple Fanta, even though he rarely drinks soda. What really got to Offset was when his son noticed the color of his Fanta was different and asked why, which Offset found incredibly touching.

Offset explained that the seemingly harmless comment really upset him, adding, “I almost cried when I went to my room.”

I felt terrible as a father,” the rapper explained. “He doesn’t even realize there are drugs around. He’s unaware, but I worry that even something small, like him wanting the same soda as me, means I’m having a negative influence on him.

The Valley star shared his decades-long battle with drugs in March 2025 after going to rehab.

Jax revealed on the March 4th episode of Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast that he’s struggling with addiction, specifically with cocaine. He admitted it was difficult to talk about.

He explained that he’s struggled with this issue intermittently since he was 23, and now, at 45, it continues to come and go. He’d sometimes stop, but other times it would become a significant problem again.

Jax also stopped drinking, noting that while he didn’t believe he had a serious alcohol issue, it was connected to his cocaine use. He explained he couldn’t use cocaine without drinking alcohol, so he decided to quit both at the same time. He’s now been sober for over 82 days, which is the longest period of abstinence he’s ever experienced.

Tom Holland, known for his role as Spider-Man, quit drinking in 2022 because he felt controlled by alcohol. He admitted on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast that he was addicted, saying, “I was definitely addicted to alcohol, not shying away from that at all.” He believes even having a beer every day could be a sign of a problem.

The actor explained that you eventually reach a point where you regret having that extra drink. This usually leads to a really bad headache the next morning.

After changing his lifestyle, Holland found he was sleeping more soundly and coping with challenges more effectively.

He explained that he was much calmer and more able to handle problems on set. He felt mentally clear, healthier, and in better physical shape.

Sean Connery, famous for his role in Hunt for Red October, rarely discusses his forty-year journey with sobriety.

He shared in a May 2024 podcast that he doesn’t often talk about his sobriety, only bringing it up when relevant. He’s been sober for 39 years, since February 23, 1985.

Alec described his early years in Los Angeles after moving from New York in 1983 as a period of intense struggle with cocaine use. He admitted to using a significant amount of the drug, comparing its prevalence at the time to that of coffee – it was widespread and many people were using it constantly. He felt he battled this problem for about two years.

And after quitting the drug, he soon turned to alcohol—only to also quit that dependency. 

Today, he relies on the city around him. 

He finds New York City incredibly relaxing. He loves simply walking around and discovering new details he’s never noticed before – like architectural features on buildings. He also enjoys spending time with friends over lunch or coffee.

In April 2024, Anne Hathaway, known for her role in The Princess Diaries, revealed she’s been sober for over five years. She told The New York Times that reaching this point feels like a significant achievement.

She explained her decision simply. “I realized it wasn’t the right path for me,” she said. “It felt difficult to completely refuse, but I had to be firm. It’s like an allergy – if you have a serious reaction, you don’t try to fight it. I finally accepted that and stopped questioning my gut feeling.”

She’s glad she made the change. She explained, “I’ve found that things are just better overall. It really helped me avoid getting stuck in negative feelings, and I prefer to avoid that.”

When accepting the 2018 Woman of the Year Award from the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House – a program helping women recover from substance and alcohol abuse – Moore discussed how a damaging lifestyle almost ended her career.

I think we all have key moments that define us and set our life’s course. Early in my career, I was heading down a really destructive path. Despite any successes I had, I constantly felt inadequate and had very little self-worth. This quickly led to a crisis, and at the time, I didn’t understand why it was happening – it almost felt like something bigger than myself intervened.

In 2012, while seeking treatment, Moore expressed gratitude to two people she hardly knew, who essentially challenged her to get her life back on track. She joked that they told her she needed to show up unless she wanted to die, explaining that they gave her “a chance to redirect the course of my life before I destroyed everything.”

Moore reflected that others recognized potential in her that she hadn’t seen in herself. She expressed deep gratitude for their belief in her, saying she wouldn’t be where she was today without it.

Miley Cyrus revealed in 2022 that she’s been working on overcoming her addiction to Xanax since 2020. She told Rolling Stone that recovery provided much-needed stability during a difficult time. “It gave me something to focus on and helped me stay positive,” she explained.

The singer explained that once they discovered a way to temporarily block out feelings and escape pain, they were finished with something – likely a difficult period or relationship.

She explained that her friends previously seemed to accept her drug use, which led to a downward spiral she described as a “dark, bottomless pit.” However, during the pandemic, she realized she was struggling and felt disconnected. She remembers being constantly drowsy, unable to stay awake or even keep her head up because of how deeply affected she was.

She eventually sought help and noted that “it took some time to get on my own two feet.”

In his 2025 documentary, Stans, Eminem opened up about his past struggles with prescription pills. He revealed that an overdose and missing his daughter Hailie Jade’s birthday were turning points that led him to change his life.

He explained that he became emotional realizing he was on the verge of repeating a past mistake. He described an internal pep talk, urging himself not to let opportunities slip away again. He pushed himself to act, even if he wasn’t doing it for his own sake, then challenged himself, telling himself to step up and not be afraid.

Focusing on making music again was a key part of the Oscar winner’s recovery from addiction.

Okay, so get this – he actually did it! He turned on the light, just by… well, by being him! And it hit me, right then and there, that I was done feeling ashamed about being sober. It was like a total shift in perspective. I finally realized being sober wasn’t a weakness, it was incredible! It was like unlocking a superpower, and I was so proud of myself for getting clean. Seriously, I started walking around like I could conquer the world because I had conquered something huge – my addiction. It felt amazing.

The actor, known from the show Parenthood, had been sober for 16 years when they had a setback in 2020. They began taking Vicodin after being injured in a motorcycle accident.

He explained on his Armchair Expert podcast that he’s been taking prescription medication consistently for about the past two months, and is also taking additional doses beyond what’s prescribed.

He admitted he hated what he was doing and felt he had to stop, but his tolerance was increasing rapidly. He was now using eight pills a day, and worried about the severe withdrawal symptoms he knew would follow. He confessed to feeling scared and incredibly lonely, burdened by a huge secret he was keeping from everyone.

In 2018, the actress known for her role in Halloween openly discussed her decade-long struggle with opioid addiction. It began in the late 1980s after a small cosmetic procedure to address puffy eyes. The resulting prescription dramatically altered her life. She told People magazine, “I spent ten years stealing and deceiving people. No one had any idea.”

Curtis recalls the summer of 1998 as her lowest point. Her sister arrived with prescription painkillers for a broken rib, and Curtis ended up taking all of them. Knowing her sister would discover the missing pills before leaving, she confessed in a note left on the suitcase. To Curtis’s relief, her sister responded with love and concern, expressing she couldn’t bear to watch Curtis destroy herself.

Let me tell you, opening up can be incredibly powerful. I shared my struggles with alcohol for the first time with my husband, Christopher Guest, on February 3rd, 1999. It was a real moment of vulnerability, and honestly, he was shocked he hadn’t noticed before. The good news is, I’ve been happily sober ever since, and it’s been the best decision of my life.

Drew Barrymore, who has previously sought treatment for substance use, revealed in 2021 that she had reached a significant point in her recovery. Speaking on CBS Mornings, she shared that she’d been sober for two and a half years, realizing that alcohol simply wasn’t beneficial to her life.

She explained that sharing who we truly are – our stories and accomplishments – is both incredibly freeing and deeply personal.

Drew Barrymore later told the Los Angeles Times she avoids calling herself “sober” because she doesn’t want to be seen as overly strict or judgmental.

She explained that she used to tell herself, ‘I can learn this, I can solve this.’ But eventually, she came to the realization that she hadn’t, and wouldn’t, ever truly become proficient at it.

Bradley Cooper battled a cocaine addiction in the early 2000s. His friend, Will Arnett, helped him by addressing the issue and confronting him about his struggles.

Cooper shared in a 2022 podcast interview that it was the first time he understood he had a problem with drugs and alcohol, a moment he says he’ll never forget.

Cooper explained that Arnett helped him get sober, saying, “Arnett was willing to have a difficult conversation with me, and that’s what ultimately led me to decide to change my life.”

Edward Norton credited Bradley Cooper with helping him overcome a long struggle with alcohol. Accepting an award from Cooper at the 2020 National Board of Review Awards, Norton shared, “I got sober because of this guy, and I’ve been happier every day since.”

As a lifestyle advocate, I’m always thrilled to hear about positive changes! Recently, I shared with my followers that I’d reached a personal milestone – September 2023 marked the longest period since my teenage years that I’d gone without using nicotine or marijuana, or anything like it. It felt really good to acknowledge that progress.

He expressed gratitude for overcoming addiction and dependence, saying that achieving sobriety brings a sense of clarity and a deeper spiritual connection, which feels truly good.

In 2018, the singer first celebrated six years of being sober while on tour. However, she surprised her fans later that year with the release of her honest song “Sober,” in which she admitted she had started using substances again.

She sang, filled with regret: “Mom, I’m truly sorry I’ve lost my sobriety. Dad, please forgive me for the mess I’ve made. And to those of you who’ve stuck by me, I’m so sorry this has happened again – we’ve been through this before, and I’m not sober anymore.”

A month later, Lovato was hospitalized for a near-fatal overdose.

She shared on Instagram a couple of weeks ago that she’s always been open about her struggles with addiction. She explained that it’s an ongoing battle, not something that simply goes away. She needs time to heal, focus on staying sober, and continue her recovery. She’s incredibly grateful for the support she’s received and hopes to reach a point where she’s fully overcome this challenge, and she’s committed to continuing the fight.

In 2018, she spoke about her struggles with sex and alcohol addiction. She explained that her addictions would shift over time, and when she was younger, she believed sex could solve any problem. She later realized she had developed a serious issue with drinking as well.

She recalled a particularly low point when she was home alone and had already finished two bottles of wine, and was about to open a third. That’s when she realized she might have a drinking problem.

Honestly, when things get too much, I just cut them off completely – I’m good at that, I really am. I’ve always been the type to dive headfirst into things, and I have to constantly watch myself because I get so fixated. It’s not necessarily what I’m doing, it’s how I’m doing it, you know? Like, what’s driving me? It all comes down to the reasons behind the behavior. Take anything, even something fun… it’s not about doing it, it’s about why you’re doing it. That’s what I try to figure out.

Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean revealed he first experimented with drugs before shooting the music video for their 2000 hit, “The Call.” He later told Good Morning America that he was “completely out of control” during filming. He achieved sobriety in 2021, and within a year, experienced significant improvements to his health, including losing 32 pounds over seven months by giving up alcohol and fast food.

I’ve noticed with so many of my clients that alcohol can really contribute to weight gain, but honestly, it’s often the emotional toll that’s even more significant. As I shared with Today back in September 2022, it can truly weigh you down mentally.

Following the tragic death of Mac Miller, rapper Bow Wow (Shad Moss) revealed on Twitter that he had once battled an addiction to cough syrup, often called “lean.” He shared a personal story, explaining that during the creation of his “FACE OFF” album with Omarion, he was regularly using lean. He admitted he was high on the substance during a well-known on-stage incident with Torae on BET. He described how the drug affected his attitude, strained relationships with fans and family, and ultimately led to health problems. Bow Wow detailed being addicted to lean throughout the UCP tour with Chris Brown, consuming it at least seven times a day, until a severe withdrawal episode landed him in the hospital after a show in Cincinnati. He emphasized the intense pain and physical effects of withdrawal, including feeling constantly cold and missing shows in Chicago and Baltimore due to being sick and high. He urged young people to avoid drugs, encouraging them to be good sons and daughters and to strive to be their best selves. He expressed a desire to be more open about his past and to help save young people from similar struggles, asking parents to talk to their children about the dangers of drug use. He concluded by sharing that his stomach has never fully recovered and reiterating his commitment to a drug-free life, urging fans to break the cycle and prioritize their well-being.

In 2018, the singer opened up about her struggles with addiction alongside the release of her album No Shame and her memoir, My Thoughts Exactly. She revealed she had been using cocaine and drinking heavily, describing herself as constantly intoxicated. Things came to a head when, after accidentally hitting Orlando Bloom with her head at Kate Hudson’s Halloween party and losing consciousness, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin organized an intervention to help her.

I was really struck by what she shared with The Guardian. She described feeling completely empty, like nothing could truly make her happy. It was heartbreaking to hear her say that she actually considered trying heroin because she felt like she’d exhausted every other option – she just couldn’t find anything that would make things better.

The actor known for The Parent Trap struggled with cocaine addiction during the 1980s, leading him to seek treatment in 1990. He later shared on Today that he came of age in the 1960s and 70s, a time when attitudes toward drug use were very different.

He confessed that in the 1980s, his cocaine use was so extensive it rivaled some movie budgets. He described desperately pleading with God to help him stop, often right before work, only to find himself rationalizing his addiction just hours later, thinking it wasn’t that bad.

He described a powerful experience, what he called seeing a white light, where he felt he was either dying or about to lose everything important in his life. He then had to explain this to his then-fiancée, Meg Ryan, and after that, he sought professional help. This, he said, marked the end of his struggle with cocaine.

Following an incident at a Newport Beach hotel where he attempted to break down his own door, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte entered treatment for alcohol addiction in 2018. His representative stated to TopMob News that Lochte had been struggling with alcohol abuse for years, and it had become a damaging cycle. He recognized the need for professional help and began treatment immediately.

According to a recent statement, Ryan understands that overcoming this illness is crucial – not only to prevent future regrets, but also to be a good husband and father, and to have a chance at competing in his fifth Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 and regaining his top form.

Despite knowing you shouldn’t get sober for another person, Jason Ritter credits his relationship with Melanie Lynskey as a key factor in his decision to stop drinking.

He realized how wonderful she was and believed she deserved someone truly great. Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show in March 2023, he admitted he didn’t feel up to the task, saying he felt ‘a little bit too crazy’ for her.

However, as Ritter noted to TopMob News, he now sees that sobriety is ultimately a personal choice.

He remembered that in the beginning of their relationship, it felt simpler to justify his actions by saying he was doing them for her. He admitted he didn’t value his own well-being much at the time, and was more concerned with protecting her feelings than his own. So, he initially told himself he was acting for her sake. Now, however, he’s motivated by his own needs and desires.

The country singer has been sober for almost ten years, but achieving that took a lot of work. His struggle with alcohol and painkillers started shortly after high school and continued even as his music career grew. He admitted to People magazine that he always kept a black leather laptop bag nearby filled with Jagermeister or vodka, and would drink from it every hour and a half to two hours. He also took a pill or two every three to four hours.

Despite everything, it didn’t hinder his achievements. “I wasn’t falling apart,” he explained. “I was actually more productive then – I wrote more songs back then than I do today, and that’s what really worried me.”

In late 2011, he ended up in the hospital with pancreatitis and received a stark warning: unless he stopped drinking, he likely wouldn’t live another year. He admitted he initially delayed addressing the problem, attempting to cut back on his own. “I’d tell myself, ‘Okay, just two pills today, and I’ll only drink this much from the bottle,’ and I’d even mark the bottle to keep track,” he remembered. “It would work for a day or two, but then someone would have a party and I’d start again.”

Gilbert finally realized he needed help and checked into rehab on December 18, 2011. He explained, “I reached a point where I knew I couldn’t overcome it by myself.” He admitted it was frustrating and humiliating, saying, “I’m usually very determined, but this was the one thing I just couldn’t make happen.”

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2025-11-21 20:25