Jennie Garth, the beloved “Beverly Hills 90210” star, is now looking back on one of the darkest chapters of her life. One that included emotional collapse, a frightening hospital incident, and a difficult battle with alcohol. In her memoir I Choose Me, Garth reveals how the breakdown of her marriage left her struggling in ways few people ever saw.
Her story begins years before her eventual recovery in California, when emotional pain began quietly taking over her daily life. Jennie Garth’s marriage to actor Peter Facinelli, which began in 2001 after the two met on the set of a TV movie in the mid-1990s, eventually unraveled after years together and three daughters.
Their relationship ended in divorce in 2013, but the emotional fallout, she explains, started long before that final separation. According to Radar Online, this is when Jennie’s life-threatening troubles began.
Jennie Garth Hits Rock Bottom During California Divorce
Garth admits she turned to alcohol as a way to cope with heartbreak, grief, and emotional exhaustion. Over time, that coping mechanism began to take a serious toll on her well-being. She describes a period where she felt herself fading, saying she could notice her energy and outlook changing in ways she couldn’t ignore.
At her lowest point amid her divorce to Peter Facinelli, Garth reveals she experienced a frightening medical emergency after a period of heavy drinking mixed with pills. The situation became serious enough that her stomach had to be pumped, a moment that forced her to confront just how far things had spiraled.
That incident eventually led her to seek help in rehab in California, where she began the difficult process of recovery and self-reflection. It marked the beginning of a shift away from emotional survival mode and toward healing.
Facing Emotional Pain Head-On
In her memoir, Garth writes candidly about the emotional weight she carried during and after the marriage breakdown. She describes feeling “tormented” for years, with the pain affecting not only her mindset but also her relationships and self-image.
She recalls looking in the mirror and realizing she no longer recognized the version of herself staring back. That realization became a turning point. One where she began to understand that holding onto anger and grief was slowly dimming her life.
Eventually, she reached a moment of clarity where she chose forgiveness as a path forward, not just for her former husband, but for her own peace of mind.
“I noticed my light really dimming. I wasn’t putting off good vibes. I could see it in the mirror. I could look at the negative impact that that kind of grief and anger was having on me.”
She continued: “And 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.'”
Following rehab and recovery in California, Jennie Garth began rebuilding her life. She later found stability with actor Dave Abrams, whom she married in 2015. Their journey has not been without challenges, including a brief separation following personal struggles. But the couple eventually reunited and continued building their life together in Southern California.
Healing and Moving Forward
Garth also emphasizes how much she has learned about people-pleasing and self-worth. She noted that clarity about what she truly wants in life has helped her move forward with greater confidence. Despite the pain of the past, Garth and Facinelli have since developed a cooperative co-parenting relationship for the sake of their daughters. What once was a difficult and painful separation has evolved into a more peaceful dynamic rooted in family stability.
Jennie Garth’s journey is one marked by heartbreak, struggle, and eventual recovery. From a painful marriage breakdown to a dangerous health scare and rehab in California. Her story reflects how quickly emotional pain can spiral when left unaddressed.
Today, she stands in a very different place. Still shaped by her past, but no longer controlled by it.
Lola Wheeler 
Sofia Bassett 
Nina Franklin 
