Drew Barrymore opened up about her dark days of alcoholism in a recent interview, saying her addiction issues were so bad that her own therapist cut ties with her.
Barrymore discussed the devastation she felt when her marriage ended in divorce in a March interview with the Los Angeles Times. She said she never imagined she would raise her children in a broken home, and the feeling she had failed her kids had a strong hold on her. The famous actress turned to the bottle for relief and found herself addicted to alcohol again — a familiar go-to for the star who had struggled with alcoholism extensively in her youth, according to the interview. She kept up her habit while participating in routine sessions with popular celebrity psychoanalyst Barry Michels, and he eventually quit on the star.
Drew Barrymore said she convinced herself she could keep drinking alcohol because of how “highly functioning” she was. After her move to New York coincided with her divorce, her therapist was so concerned about her drinking that he ended their relationship https://t.co/ByJ4LI2vQt pic.twitter.com/UIbC1ztoe7
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 5, 2023
A highly esteemed professional in his industry, Michels reportedly worked for Barrymore for a decade. Stars including Gwyneth Paltrow and Adam McKay have sung his praises, according to the LA Times.
However, the therapist was apparently unable to convince Barrymore to stop drinking and he grew so concerned about the famous actress that he ended their relationship, she told the outlet. Michels allegedly said he couldn’t treat Barrymore if she continued to drown herself in alcohol, and that he needed her to give it up — but she wasn’t able to stop at the time of his request, Barrymore said.
“[Michels] just said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.'” (RELATED: Drew Barrymore Needs To Ease Off The Psychedelic Mushrooms)
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“It was really about my drinking. I said, ‘I get it. I’ve never respected you more. You see I’m not getting better. And I hope, one day, that I can earn your trust back,” Barrymore continued, speaking about the moment Michels called it quits on their professional relationship.
Barrymore said she turned a new leaf on her own accord and worked hard to kick her habit.
She called Michels with a status update two years later, and the famous therapist signed on with her again, Barrymore said.
“I don’t stay stuck,” she told the outlet.