Ben Affleck Breaks Silence About Rehab And Addiction

Ben Affleck Live By Night

Since entering rehab a little over a month ago, Ben Affleck has kept a low profile. The actor/director is focused on his health and recovery at this moment, and he appears to be taking the process seriously -- particularly as he works on bettering himself not merely for his health but for the sake of his soon-to-be ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, and their three young children. While a couple of people, including his brother Casey Affleck, have spoken on Ben Affleck's account, Ben Affleck has opted not to open up about the process yet publicly, for understandable reasons. But as Affleck enters his 40th day inside the rehabilitation center, the celebrity provided an update on social media about his recovery process, admitting that it's a running journey, not a clear destination, and that it'll continue to be a long ongoing process. Here's what Affleck wrote to his fans in his update about his rehab stint.

This week I completed a forty day stay at a treatment center for alcohol addiction and remain in outpatient care. The support I have received from my family, colleagues and fans means more to me than I can say. It's given me the strength and support to speak about my illness with others. Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle. Because of that one is never really in or out of treatment. It is a lifelong commitment. I am fighting for myself and my family.

As the confessional Instagram post from Ben Affleck admits, the road to recovery doesn't come easily. It's going to remain a process for Ben Affleck, even as he begins to finish up his time with rehab (presumably). It's now up to Affleck to make sure he stays healthy and sober once he checks out of rehab. That's never easy for an addict, but it's something he'll need to do in order to keep himself controlled, focused and sober in the tough months to come. However, by hearing people's stories and being open about his own struggles, Ben Affleck continues to find the inner strength to push forward.

So many people have reached out on social media and spoke about their own journeys with addiction. To those people I want to say thank you. Your strength and courage is inspiring and is supporting me in ways I didn't think was possible. It helps to know I am not alone. As I've had to remind myself, if you have a problem, getting help is a sign of wisdom and strength, not weakness or failure. With acceptance and humility, I continue to avail myself with the help of so many people and I am grateful to all those who are there for me. I hope down the road I can offer an example to others who are struggling.

This recent rehab visit is Ben Affleck's third. The actor was previously in rehab in 2001 and then he went to rehab again in December. As Affleck notes in the post above, seeking help is a sign of courage, not weakness, and Ben Affleck hopes he can inspire others to seek help if they need it as well. Addiction is tough, and it is something that one is never truly able to shake away. But thankfully, Affleck is seeking treatment and he is hopefully finding the support and help he needs in this difficult process. Meanwhile, we'll continue to provide you with updates and news breaks here at CinemaBlend.

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Will Ashton

Will is an entertainment writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. His writing can also be found in The Playlist, Cut Print Film, We Got This Covered, The Young Folks, Slate and other outlets. He also co-hosts the weekly film/TV podcast Cinemaholics with Jon Negroni and he likes to think he's a professional Garfield enthusiast.