Ben Affleck has completed a 40-day stint at a substance abuse treatment center and addressed his “lifelong and difficult struggle” on a post on Instagram.
“The support I have received from my family, colleagues, and fans means more to me than I can say,” he wrote on Thursday. “It’s given me the strength and support to speak about my illness with others.”
The actor, 46, entered rehab in August. It was the third time he sought treatment for his addiction; he also went to rehab in 2001 and 2017.
“Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle,” Affleck wrote. “Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is a full-time commitment. I am fighting for myself and my family.”
Affleck and his wife, actress Jennifer Garner, have three children: Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6. The pair filed for divorce in 2017 after being separated for two years. They reached a settlement in August, and their divorce is imminent. Garner has been instrumental in helping her estranged husband get help.
The actor thanked everyone for supporting his sobriety.
“So many people have reached out on social media and spoken about their own journeys with addiction. To those people, I want to say thank you,” Affleck said. “Your strength 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 courage, not weakness or failure.”
He concluded that he hopes that “down the road, I can offer an example to others who are struggling.”
Garner drove Affleck to the treatment center this summer. He continues to receive outpatient treatment.
