Jennie Garth is sharing candid details about the emotional toll her divorce took on her mental and physical health, describing a period of profound darkness that followed the end of her marriage to Peter Facinelli.
In an interview published on Wednesday, April 8, the 54-year-old actress described recognizing the visible impact of her emotional state during that difficult period. "I noticed my light really dimming. I wasn't putting off good vibes. I could see it in the mirror," Garth told People. "I could look at the negative impact that that kind of grief and anger was having on me."
Garth and Facinelli were married from 2001 to 2013. The former couple share three daughters: Luca, 28, Lola, 23, and Fiona, 19. The dissolution of their marriage left lasting scars that extended far beyond the legal proceedings.
"I spent a good amount of years being hurt, sad, just tormented by it, and it eked out into all aspects of my life," Garth acknowledged about the divorce's aftermath.
The actress is promoting her new book, I Choose Me, which arrives in stores on Tuesday, April 14. In the memoir, Garth details a particularly harrowing incident near the end of her second marriage when she consumed alcohol and pills, resulting in emergency medical intervention. She had her stomach pumped and was subsequently admitted to the Canyon Ranch rehab center.
The crisis proved to be a turning point. Garth described reaching a moment of clarity that allowed her to begin releasing the burden of resentment she had carried. "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,'" she told People.
The journey from that low point to forgiveness represents a significant transformation for the actress, who built her career on roles that often portrayed strength and resilience. Her willingness to discuss such vulnerable moments publicly underscores the broader conversation about mental health and the long-term impacts of relationship dissolution.
Garth's forthcoming book promises to offer readers an unfiltered look at her personal struggles and the path she forged toward self-acceptance and healing. By sharing her story, the actress joins a growing number of public figures using their platforms to destigmatize discussions around mental health challenges and the complex emotional work required to move forward after life-altering events.