Image Source: The Today Show

A century ago, marriages meant a lifetime contract for two people in love, but now, the stigma around divorces has decreased to a considerable degree, allowing people once again to find happiness in life. Hollywood essentially has paved a way for people to see that breaking up a marriage gone wrong is not necessarily evil. If your mental health does not find a peaceful place to settle, settling with a partner will not work for you.

Recently, Drew Barrymore spoke about her divorce, the trauma that came along with it but also how her mental health was impacted by the ordeal. Talking with Machine Gun Kelly during a laid-back episode of the talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, the star shared how her marriage came to be once she realized she was not happy. 

The star got divorced from her former husband, Will Kopelman, in 2016 and has now conceded the fact that she needed aid for her mental health following the divorce. The couple initially went strong for about four years, but then things went downhill, as shared by the actress with Machine Gun Kelly. The topic was initially started by MGK, as he spoke about his own mental health and associated pain. And then, Barrymore got carried away and shared her own experience. 

The actress, aged 46, said, "I went through a really painful divorce, and I wasn't doing very well," revealed in a peek of the episode that will later be airing this week on Friday. She added, "I had these two kids I had to fight for, and I needed help. So I started reaching out to different people, and eventually, I made some big sweeping changes in my life. I got on a whole new track. Not back on track, but a whole new one that I helped build."

However, Barrymore had never decided to open up about her separation from her former husband on her talk show. It was essentially an emotional moment as she got carried away by things that she needed to let out. She told CBS This Morning, "We were just set to do an interview about his nail polish," but the singer then shared his mental trauma. Hence, Barrymore later revealed, "I was so surprised by his vulnerability."

Still, seeing Hollywood stars speaking loudly about things that hurt them in relationships they thought would last is a lesson many common people can benefit from. Everyone goes through struggles in their love life, and while some stars like Barrymore decide on keeping things private, a public talk about the same struggle inspires so many more to walk through their trauma and make the best of it.

Hence, Barrymore shared, "I wouldn't be surprised if there is a revolt against the perfection right now that we are all forced to see and feel through social media." "We're in an impasse and a crux of a moment where talking about how we figure ourselves out, how we fix ourselves takes a journey and solutions. Most people do it in private."

Not only did ending her relationship allow her to listen to herself and change her circumstances, but the divorce and the resultant mental health aid also helped her begin her sober journey. Barrymore shared during her conversation at CBS This Morning that she has been sober for over two years now. Embracing a healthy lifestyle, she revealed, "It was something I realized just did not serve me and my life," and also conceded that her journey was "quiet" and she was "confident" as she undertook the task of becoming clean. 

But that is not all of it. Spurred by her bettering mental health and coming out of her previous marriage, the star also opened about previous bouts with mental illness. In a September episode of her talk show, she revealed that she went back to the mental health institution where she went as a teenager. She said, "I was a real wild child, and I just got so out of control that no one knew what to do with me." 

She elaborated, "They drove me here in the middle of the night, and they walked me through those two doors, and when you go through those two doors, you do not come out. And I was there for a year and a half." 

Taking her responsibility as a celebrity seriously, Barrymore thought it crucial to let people know that being a celebrity, famous or rich, does not help with mental health. In the end, aid for mental health and illness comes handy. 

"I think this is important for me to share with people because when they watch our show, we have a very beautiful set and I get to dress in nice clothing and get my hair and makeup done, and there is an elegance, hopefully, to the show," said Barrymore. "But I will never lose sight of this part of my story, and I have seen and been through things, and they've helped me just recognize in all of us that we go through stuff.

Barrymore returned to her teenage mental health facility to have a look back; Credits: Insider

Not everyone is very open to receiving aid or entering an institution, and Barrymore understands that "it can't be embarrassing. However, she added, "It has to be our strengths, it has to be something that we can be proud of because we overcame it, and we look back with honor and humor."