Ben Affleck’s Journey in Recovery

Ben Affleck is one of Hollywood’s most famous actors/producers/directors. He is also an alcoholic. Just because you are famous, does not mean you are immune to addiction. Well-known for his roles in movies like Good Will Hunting, Gone Girl, The Town, and his role as Batman in Justice League, he has certainly made a name for himself.

Over the years, he has been very open and honest about his recovery, often sharing in interviews and on social media. Ben Affleck was sober for one year before relapsing, something that some addicts are all too familiar with.

Where the Addiction Began

Ben Affleck is the child of an alcoholic father. In interviews he has said how he watched his father drink all day, every day growing up. While his father eventually got sober, the damage had already been done. Children who watch their parents struggle with alcoholism tend to follow a similar pattern. As they learn how to cope with the world, they might turn to alcohol as a comforting coping mechanism that they learned from their parents.

Affleck has been in and out of treatment programs for years. He first checked into rehab in 2001. After 2001, Affleck claims to have managed to drink “relatively normally” for a while, but that changed in 2015/2016 while he was having marital problems with actress Jennifer Garner. The more problems he had, the more he drank, and the worse his marriage problems became.

Where He Hit Rock Bottom

Affleck’s drinking started out as being social but slowly evolved into a daily occurrence. He would come home from work and drink himself to sleep. In 2001, he was 29, partying too much, and lacked boundaries. This ultimately landed him in his first rehab facility in an effort to clear his head and figure out what path he wanted to take.

When he entered into a rehab facility in 2017, Affleck wanted to go in order to be the best father to his children. He also decided to go public in an effort to show his kids that there is no shame in asking for help when you need it.

In 2018, ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, brought an addiction specialist to Affleck’s home for an intervention. He was cooperative and agreed to go complete a third stint in rehab in August 2018. He completed a 40-day inpatient treatment program, followed up with outpatient care for his alcohol addiction.

From Addict to Hero

On March 6, 2020, Affleck brought his real-life struggles to the big screen in the film The Way Back – a sports drama that features him as a high school basketball coach dealing with alcoholism.

When asked what it was like to play an alcoholic while being one in recovery himself, he told The New York Times, “The benefits, to me, far outweighed the risks. I found it very therapeutic.”

Choosing to stop using is a step in the right direction, but recovery can be hard sometimes. Affleck’s journey goes to show that at the end of the day, everyone is human. We all have struggles and make mistakes, but it’s how you handle the curveballs that life throws your way that will make all the difference. Recovery is a journey, with bumps and roadblocks along the way.

Recovery is Possible

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, let Victory Bay help. Our staff of trained professionals will help get you back on the right track to living a happier and healthier sober life. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment programs by calling 855.239.5099.

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