Jax Taylor admits he was 'scared' to leave mental health facility amid Brittany Cartwright divorce
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a candid and heartfelt episode of his podcast 'When Reality Hits', Jax Taylor, the notorious bad boy of reality TV, opened up about his transformative experience following a recent 30-day stay at an in-patient treatment facility.
This comes days after the 'Vanderpump Rules' alum disclosed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in an emotional Instagram post.
Jax Taylor opens up about being 'scared' to leave the facility
On the podcast, Jax Taylor shared, "It was a very, very scary step for me, but it really needed to happen," acknowledging the emotional weight he has been carrying for years.
He admitted, "I’ve known for years that there’s been something wrong but I just didn’t want to know. During my stay, I found out a lot about myself. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder."
This marked a turning point for the 45-year-old, who had long resisted confronting his "inner demons."
Taylor's initial resistance to the experience was palpable.
"When I got there, I f*****g hated it," shared the reality TV star, describing his rocky start at the facility. However, as time went on, he began to embrace the therapeutic process.
"Then I just let myself [take it all in] and then I loved it. I didn’t want to f*****g leave," noted Taylor, his voice brimming with emotion. He added, "I really, really didn’t. I was so sad leaving. I was crying. I’m like, ‘I don’t want to go.’ I was scared to leave those front doors because I had structure every day."
His revelations come almost a month after his estranged wife, Brittany Cartwright, filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." She requested primary legal and physical custody of their three-year-old son, Cruz.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2019, initially announced their separation in February.
Jax Taylor on embracing structure during his stay at mental health facility
On the podcast, Jax Taylor opened up about the structured routine he had to follow at the facility. His daily schedule involved extensive therapy sessions, gym visits with the supervision of a nurse, and strictly regulated phone access.
"My days were very, very structured, and I realized that’s something I really needed in my life," reflected the Bravo star.
The consistency and support he found within those walls provided a stark contrast to the chaotic life he often led outside, as per OK Magazine. Despite his newfound appreciation for structure, Taylor was realistic about the road ahead.
"Just because I went to the facility for 30 days definitely doesn’t mean I’m coming out cured or changed by any means," emphasized the 45-year-old. He added, "Although I wish it did work that way, I will not. I’m a work in progress."
His words serve as a reminder that the journey to mental wellness is ongoing, and not something that can be achieved overnight.
Jax Taylor admits the thought of returning to reality overwhelmed him
The prospect of returning to reality after his time in the facility weighed heavily on Jax Taylor.
He recalled feeling overwhelmed at the thought, saying, "I was like, ‘God, I know the world’s going to hit me a ton of bricks.’ And I got to go back to filming [The Valley]. I know everybody’s mad at me, and they’re going to come at me.'"
Taylor also touched on the stigma surrounding mental health, especially in the public eye.
"It’s scary to work on yourself. It’s scary to tell people that you have problems," shared 'The Valley' star.
Yet, his time at the facility has given him a deeper understanding of his own mental health battles.
He noted, "I now have a little bit better understanding of my mental health struggles. I’ve been put on some serious medication that’s actually been helping me out a lot. In time, I’ll definitely speak more about it openly, but right now I kind of just need to deal with this process."
