Ben affleck jennifer garner
On Tuesday evening, Ben Affleck shared a Facebook post explaining that he’d just completed treatment for alcohol addiction.
“,” he wrote.
And what the post makes clear is that for Affleck, the biggest help of all has been Jennifer Garner: co-parent of their three children—Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5—and the woman he’s apparently in the process of splitting with since their planned divorce was announced in 2015.
“I’m lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do,” Affleck wrote. “This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.”
Whether or not Affleck’s recovery has anything to do with the couple’s rumored reunion is unclear. And to most of the world, it’s probably irrelevant. What matters is that to a lot of people, this story will feel very familiar. Because it is—for those battling addiction, the support of a partner can make all the difference.
Other famous couples have spoken about this before. Keith Urban credits Nicole Kidman’s tough love with pushing him to get the help he needed to recover.
“You cannot save a human being, they have to save themselves,” Kidman said in an interview last year. “But you can love them and give them enormous support and love.”
Robert Downey Jr.’s wife, Susan Downey, famously pushed him to get sober.
“I think he saw what we had,” Susan explained to Harper’s Bazaar. “There was something magical there, something we couldn’t put our finger on. He always says that we became this third thing when we got together—something that neither of us could have become by ourselves—and I think that’s true.”
It’s not all romance and “for better or worse” vignettes, however. As experts at Florida’s Fairwinds Treatment Center point out, “Supporting a loved one who is fighting addiction is incredibly draining.” Because you’re not just looking after that person—you also need to find time to take care of yourself. And often, as Affleck highlights in his tribute to Garner, also take care of your family.
So here’s to the people closest to those dealing with an addiction. They go through just as much, in their own way. And whatever these close relationships may look like on the other side, they’re often the ultimate source of support.
You can find support and more information at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website, or speak to the SAMSHA helpline on 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction in Long Beach, don’t hesitate to seek help. Rehab and detox facilities like Roots Through Recovery have programs that can help you combat whippit or inhalant addiction as well as any co-occurring conditions. Roots Through Recovery facility in Long Beach is easily accessible via South Bay, Catalina Island, and Orange County. Visit 3939 Atlantic Ave, Suite 102 Long Beach, CA 90807 or call (866) 766-8776.
