Jennie Garth Opens Up About Addiction, Trauma, and Her Journey to Sobriety

Jennie Garth is detailing a period of significant personal turmoil and her subsequent path to sobriety in her upcoming memoir, I Choose Me: Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose, and Embracing Reinvention. The book, scheduled for release on April 14 from Park Row, an imprint of Harper Collins, serves as the foundation for Garth’s I Choose Me movement, which also includes a dedicated podcast.

In an exclusive cover story with People, the 54-year-old actress revealed that she struggled with depression, anxiety, and imposter syndrome for much of her life. Garth explained that the intense fame she experienced during her time on Beverly Hills, 90210 was so stressful that it caused her to retreat into herself and live an isolating existence.

Struggles with Addiction and Recovery

The memoir delves into the painful aftermath of Garth’s divorce from Peter Facinelli, to whom she was married for 12 years and with whom she shares three daughters. Garth described a dark period where she began self-medicating with alcohol and pills to cope with the grief and anger following the split.

According to reporting from People and E! News, this period of self-medication reached a critical point when Garth had to have her stomach pumped one night. Following this incident, she sought professional help and spent time at the Canyon Ranch rehab center.

I wasn’t putting off good vibes. I could see it in the mirror. I could look at the negative impact that that kind of grief and anger was having on me.

Jennie Garth via People

Garth noted that she felt her light really dimming during this time. She eventually experienced a shift in perspective, deciding that she no longer wanted to carry the burden of her anger and that she needed to forgive Facinelli to move forward with her life.

Trauma and Mental Health

Beyond her struggles with addiction, Garth is opening up about other deep-seated traumas, including miscarriages and long-term issues with body image. She describes these experiences as part of a decades-long battle with her mental health and self-worth.

Garth reflected on the disconnect between her public persona and her private reality. While her character on Beverly Hills, 90210, Kelly Taylor, lived a high-profile life in Beverly Hills, Garth noted that she did not grow up in that environment and felt like an outsider even as she became one of the most famous teenagers in the world.

The Origin of the ‘I Choose Me’ Movement

The title of Garth’s memoir and movement is a reference to a specific plot point from May 1995. In an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210, the character Kelly Taylor was pressured to choose between two love interests, Dylan McKay, played by Luke Perry, and Brandon Walsh, played by Jason Priestley. In a feminist-leaning moment, the character walked away from both, stating, I choose me.

Garth admitted that at the time of filming, she did not fully grasp the sentiment behind those words. However, after turning 50, she found that the phrase began to resonate with her personal journey toward healing and self-actualization.

There was a weird switch, where one day I just said, ‘I don’t want to carry this anymore. It’s impacting my relationships and how I feel about myself. I’ve got to let it go. I’ve got to forgive him.’

Jennie Garth via People

Garth stated that she has finally reached a place where she is comfortable choosing herself. This realization has led to her current state of sobriety and a renewed sense of purpose.

Regarding her current relationship with her ex-husband, Garth indicated that she and Peter Facinelli have since ironed out the difficulties in their coparenting dynamic, allowing them to raise their daughters together more effectively.