Share and Follow
Jax Taylor had been dealing with substance abuse problems for years, so by no means can his separation from Brittany Cartwright be blamed for his struggles, but going through heartbreak really pushed him over the line. In a way, hitting rock bottom ended up being a good thing, because it forced him to stop ignoring his problem and actually do something about it.
After being sober for several months, The Valley star is opening up about what went on during those turbulent times and how he got to the other side of the tunnel.
Jax Taylor Opens Up About His Struggles After Brittany Cartwright Left Him
In a March 26 interview with Us Weekly, Jax Taylor opened up about his journey towards sobriety, and what pushed him to finally kick his drug habit. The Valley fans will remember how tumultuous his breakup with Brittany Cartwright was. It was a very difficult moment for him, and coupled with his substance abuse struggle, it led him to a very dark place.
The separation was a breaking point, and his struggle got worse than ever after it.
“[After my separation], I found out Brittany was talking to my friend [Julian Sensley]. It was a serious slap in the face — I brought this person into my circle! When I found out, I collapsed,” Jax revealed.
Rock bottom, however, was earlier.
“When she left [in early 2024]. I was in my house by myself for months. I wasn’t eating. I was drinking and doing enough cocaine to kill a small horse. I went on a full-on tear.”
“I was so depressed. I felt like I lost everything. The devil on my shoulder was louder than that angel on my shoulder.”
Jax went to rehab in July 2024, but he didn’t manage to kick his addiction at the time, and a scary episode made him check into a mental health facility.
“I relapsed shortly after my first stay and in November. Brittany’s phone was plugged into my car, I saw another man’s name and lost it. Unfortunately, my son was in the car.”
“I had flashes of everything you’re not supposed to do as a parent. She was like, he needs to go back. I didn’t put up a fight.”
A Mental Health Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Even though it was a rough road, Jax Taylor is proudly now almost 4 months sober.
“I’m between 107, 110 [days sober], somewhere in there. I try not to count anymore. I just wanted to make it to 100. That was important to me.”
“My life has changed dramatically. I’m probably the healthiest I’ve ever been, I feel the best I’ve ever been. And I don’t put myself in situations I’m not comfortable with.”
“I know it’s weird because I do own a bar, but I’m a very strong person. If I say I’m not going to do something, I’m not going to do it.”
While quitting drugs and alcohol was obviously a huge step, the most important part was perhaps getting to the root of what was making him reach for substances.
For a long time, he thought his depression was to blame. But after his stint in a mental health facility, he finally got a diagnosis, and getting the proper treatment changed everything.
“I thought I was depressed, but they told me, ‘You’re not — you’re bipolar. You’re on the wrong medication.’ Since I’ve been on that, I let things roll off my back. I don’t go nuts like I used to.”
Rebuilding his life is a constant process, but Jax is clearly on the right path and feels hopeful about the future.
For more The Valley coverage, visit our Reality TV Hub.
