Dax Shepard Opened Up About His Recent Relapse
In September, Dax Shepard revealed that he relapsed after after a summertime accident. He was prescribed Vicodin, prompting his dependency to return.
Shepard’s relapse fell around the 16th anniversary of his sobriety, on which he admitted to being under the influence of painkillers.
He says “feeling unconditionally loved” by his family, especially wife Kristen Bell, saved his life.
In September, Dax Shepard humbly revealed to fans and followers that he had relapsed. On his podcast Armchair Expert, the Parenthood star has always been open about his rocky relationship with alcohol, cocaine, and prescription painkillers. And after a summertime accident that called for surgery, he was prescribed Vicodin, prompting his dependency to return. At one point, he was taking eight 30-milligram pills a day and keeping it a secret from everyone.
Since then, Shepard has begun a new sobriety journey with the support of his wife, Kristin Bell and his podcast co-host Monica Padman. In the “Holiday Spectacular 2020” podcast episode, he told them that their unconditional love quite literally saved his life. “I can’t imagine having to admit that to other people and feeling as safe as I did that you guys wouldn’t hate me,” he said. “I hated me at that point and so, to be able to tell you guys and feel unconditionally loved and that I would be accepted was really special … it saved my life.”
To make coming clean even more difficult, Shepard’s relapse fell around the 16th anniversary of his sobriety, on which he admitted to being under the influence of painkillers. “I was high at the meeting having people tell me they admire my sobriety,” he said during his initial confession. “It was the worst thing in the world.”
Looking back at the few months that have passed since then, Bell is proud of her husband’s courage and progress. “I would like to thank all parties involved because I am so appreciative of being able to go through every flavor of emotion with Monica and also to have you, the father of my children, be so able to be honest, even at your most shameful moments—is what saves you,” she said. “Your courage and boldness to say, ‘I feel like I’m slipping’ or ‘I did slip and I need to be honest before it gets worse.’” The pair share two daughters—Lincoln, 7, and Delta, 6.
Shepard added that he was relieved by not just his family’s, but the world’s reaction to the news. “My fears were the opposite of what the result was,” he shared. “[I was] struggling with some fraudulent feelings of receiving love based on a f—k up. But at any rate, I am really, really grateful and there’s so many beautiful, nice people.”
Little did he know, his honesty and vulnerability uplifted others who were going through similar experiences. “This podcast is my actual therapy and is always helping me when I need to relax so thank you,” one listener wrote on Instagram. “Dax, you are such an inspiration to me,” another commented. “I made a big mistake recently and lost my job because of it, and I want to say that your resilience and willingness to always get up and try again is a big help to me right now.” Shepard replied: “Keep movin’ forward :).”
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