Jennie Garth Details Self-Medicating Amid Peter Facinelli Divorce

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Jennie Garth is reflecting on a dark period of her history.

Jennie Garth, known for her role on Beverly Hills, 90210, is opening up about the difficult time following her divorce from Peter Facinelli. In her new memoir, I Choose Me: Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose, and Embracing Reinvention, she shares details about the painful aftermath of their split, which ended over a decade ago.

Jennie details in her upcoming book, releasing April 14th, how she turned to alcohol and pills to cope, even requiring emergency stomach pumping one night, as reported by People magazine. Following this, she sought treatment at the Canyon Ranch rehabilitation center. Jennie and Peter were married for 12 years and are parents to three daughters.

In a recent interview with People magazine, Jennie reflected on a difficult time, saying she noticed her energy and positivity fading. She explained that she could see the effects of her grief and anger in her appearance and how it was negatively impacting her well-being.

Until Jennie decided she needed to make a change. 

The man, who is 54 years old, described a sudden change in his feelings. He remembered a moment when he realized he needed to stop holding onto resentment. He explained, ‘I just decided I couldn’t carry that burden anymore—it was hurting my relationships and my self-esteem. I had to let go and truly forgive him.’

Jennie, who feels she and Peter have successfully worked out their coparenting relationship, has learned the importance of self-care, just like her character Kelly Taylor on 90210 did back in 1995.

Jennie explained to People that she didn’t fully understand the impact of Kelly’s famous line – when her character told Dylan McKay (Luke Perry) and Brandon Walsh (Jason Priestley), “I choose me.”

She said the saying resurfaced when she turned fifty, and it deeply resonated with her. After some time, she finally felt comfortable prioritizing her own needs and happiness.

This experience proved valuable, even influencing her marriage to Dave Abrams, 44, whom she married in 2015. However, after a few years, Jennie and Dave separated for about a year because the stress of undergoing IVF became overwhelming.

She remembered wanting to have a baby for Dave because he was young and all his friends were starting families. She felt it was what he needed at the time.

But since then, she and Dave have more than found their stride. 

Jennie explained that the root of many struggles is trying to please everyone else. Once you figure out what you truly want, things tend to become simpler.

For more celebrities who have shared a candid look at their mental health journeys, read on. 

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This diagnosis followed a mental health crisis he experienced in 2020.

Honestly, after a wake-up call, I realized I needed to take serious ownership of my health and well-being. I made a firm decision – no more health scares! I’m committed to prioritizing my mental health, which means I’m actively seeking therapy and I’m even open to medication if that’s what it takes. It’s about being proactive and taking care of myself, period.

Gucci Mane shared that, beyond wanting to help others, his children – Ice Davis and Iceland Davis – along with his wife, Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was struggling.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son, and he was worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared experiencing a severe mental health crisis he couldn’t recover from, so he proactively began working on his well-being and seeking professional help.

The former star of Gossip Girl spoke about struggling with “body dysmorphia” when he was a young actor.

I remember reading in The Guardian back in April 2025 that Penn openly shared how much they struggled with their body. They put it so honestly – they didn’t want to change their body, they just wished they had a different one altogether. It really resonated with me, hearing them express that feeling so directly.

He explained his weight gain after his parents’ divorce, saying he went through a time where he deliberately, and sometimes unintentionally, pursued a more traditionally attractive appearance, believing it would lead to greater success and make him feel more valuable. He had been struggling with depression and isolation before this, and this shift was a way of coping and adapting to a new reality.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He said that overcoming his disappointment and personal struggles enabled him to return to things with a renewed sense of self.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with food, and honestly, for a long time, it felt like just…my life. I’ve heard people label it an eating disorder, but for me, food was always my go-to – my way of coping, even if it meant making some really reckless choices. It was something I turned to, and sometimes, those choices were pretty wild.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to her diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar, stopping alcohol, and starting yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described these changes as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

I’m an actress who struggles with eating and how I see my body, and that’s something I’m actively working on. I’m also focusing on improving my overall health by eating nutritious foods.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She explained on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She admitted that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist often talks about how she safeguards her well-being, like blocking out negativity online, and she also offers guidance to others who might be struggling.

When asked what advice to give someone struggling with their mental health, she told Vogue that patience is key. She emphasized being kind to yourself and resisting impulsive decisions. She explained that giving things time often allows difficult feelings to subside.

As people adjusted to social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, the singer of “Firework” opened up about the significant stress these kinds of situations can cause.

She tweeted about struggling with the challenges of the pandemic, saying it’s hard to know whether the virus itself or the resulting depression is more difficult. Katy explained that she often finds peace in her car, which has become a refuge for her when she’s feeling overwhelmed. She shared that it’s often the only place she feels safe.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and discussed her personal struggles with anxiety during an appearance on Good Morning America.

She remembered that after her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to understand what was going on.

Kendall explained that she experiences both good and very anxious days, making her emotional state inconsistent. This is why she felt drawn to get involved with the movement – she wants people to know they’re not alone in their struggles.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges many men face when trying to talk about their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to learn this, but it’s important to talk about what you’re going through. Men especially often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.”

The star of Empire is a strong advocate for seeking professional help, having publicly discussed her own battles with depression. She previously shared with Variety that therapy is essential for her well-being, saying, “That’s the only way I can get through it.”

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

As someone who’s dedicated to wellness, I’ve been following this artist’s journey with a lot of empathy. She recently shared that dealing with both an eating disorder and intense stage fright led her to explore some really innovative therapy. She’s been using MDMA and psilocybin – treatments that are part of a type of PTSD therapy – to help process those difficult experiences and find healing. It’s a brave step, and I think it highlights how important it is to find the right tools for mental wellbeing.

I remember reading in Rolling Stone back in May 2025 that she said touring felt totally different this time – she wasn’t nervous at all! She described this incredible feeling, like everyone in the audience – and she included herself – was experiencing this intense physical sensation, almost like a change in air pressure. It really hit her then how much she thrives on that deep, emotional connection with people through her music – she actually needs it to feel truly alive when she’s performing.

She explained that prioritizing her mental well-being and stopping birth control led her to a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained she felt a need to stop taking birth control, as if it had severed a connection to traditional expectations of womanhood. It might sound strange, she admitted, but she felt liberated from those expectations and believed it created space for new possibilities.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, stating that it’s the first step, and that everyone has immense value.

The singer behind the song “What He Didn’t Do” recently opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly revealed on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also shared that she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I learned to suppress my feelings and cope on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to return to therapy and start understanding what was going on. I discovered that my obsessive-compulsive disorder wasn’t something that started recently—it’s been present since I was a child, around 6 or 7 years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly discussed her mental health journey for years, sharing coping strategies at public speaking events and on platforms like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she told Health magazine, this can involve things like medication, consciously focusing on ten positive aspects of life for every negative one, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has openly discussed her experience with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became simpler to talk about her experience each time. Her hope was to let others know that this could happen to anyone, and to assure those going through it that they aren’t alone and shouldn’t feel ashamed.

I was really touched reading an interview with the model in The Edit about her new book, Mirror, Mirror. She bravely shared that she struggled with depression and even suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a really difficult period where she felt like there was ‘something dark’ inside her. It was so honest and relatable, and I admire her for speaking out about it.

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy on her own, and after a long journey, she’s finally able to do just that.

As a huge Ariana fan, I was so touched by her recent tweet! Someone playfully asked who her therapist is, and she replied saying therapy has literally saved her life multiple times. It’s amazing how open she is about prioritizing her mental health, and it really encourages me – and I’m sure so many others – to reach out for help when we need it too.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to reach out for help. She reminded me that I didn’t have to live with constant pain and that healing from trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long journey ahead, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

The singer has openly shared her struggles and recovery related to addiction and mental health, and she often incorporates these experiences into her songs.

She often encourages her followers to prioritize their mental wellbeing, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with inevitable setbacks. She previously shared on Instagram, “Just a reminder to anyone who’s having a hard time – life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health both in her work, like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria, and in her personal life.

Zendaya once shared that she felt anxious after a 2013 appearance on Ellen when her microphone malfunctioned. She’s since found ways to cope with those feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break to reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of great energy followed by weeks of debilitating lows.

I recently discovered I’ve been dealing with some mental health challenges. Thankfully, finding the right medication has made all the difference – it’s honestly transformed my life. I feel like a completely different person now, and I’m so grateful for the help I’ve received.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her personal experiences as well.

She shared that she’d kept her struggles with mental health private for a long time, but finally decided to speak openly about it at the 2018 Global Changemakers Award. She explained that she believes keeping things hidden actually makes it harder to get better.

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2026-04-08 17:22