Back in March, Ben Affleck checked himself into rehab to be treated for an alcohol addiction that had been plaguing him for several years.
Affleck first got sober in 2000 following his first stint in rehab, but sources say he fell off the wagon shortly before his initial separation from Jennifer Garner in 2014.
In a public statement from earlier this year, Affleck admitted to battling alcoholism and stated that he hoped his newfound sobriety would enable him to be a better father and form a closer relationship with his children.
Unfortunately, as anyone who’s been down that road can attest, even the best of intentions can prove insufficient to the task of defeating an addiction.
That’s a lesson Affleck reportedly learned the hard way over the summer when he decided to experiment with light social drinking just months after being discharged from rehab for the second time.
Affleck is dating Lindsay Shookus these days, and sources close to the couple say that their day trips and shopping sprees often concluded with wine-fueled dinners at upscale restaurants.
In September, Affleck and Shookus were spotted drinking together during a trip to her hometown outside of Buffalo, NY.
By this time, insiders say, Affleck was back to imbibing on an almost-daily basis, but remained in denial about his relapse.
Eventually, Affleck confronted his demons and quietly checked into rehab for a third time on September 25.
But according to a new report from Us Weekly, it took an intervention orchestrated by Garner and Ben’s brother, Casey Affleck, to get the Oscar winner to realize he was careening toward rock bottom.
Yes, it seems Garner still plays an active and beneficial role in Ben’s life, and she eagerly volunteered to help upon learning that the father of her children was once again spiraling out of control.
“After everything they’ve been through, she is going to continue to be there for him when he needs her,” a source tells the tabloid.
“No matter what the circumstances.”
A second insider adds:
“From the smoking to drinking and gambling, Jen has always been the person who can get through to him. She keeps Ben in line as much as she can.”
Apparently, it didn’t make much for Jen and Casey to convince Ben to seek further treatment:
“Ben reached a breaking point,” says one source. “He knew he was spiraling and was unhappy.”
That same insider says Affleck’s inner circle is more confident than ever that he’ll be able to maintain his sobriety this time, thanks to a radical change in the way the actor thinks about his addiction:
“[In rehab, Ben] got into a great headspace,” says the source.
“He has learned that dealing with his addiction is an ongoing battle. He understands he cannot just wake up one morning and say, ‘OK, we’re all done.’ Treatment is like a job.”
And once again, it seems Ben’s primary motivation for keeping clean is his love for his children:
“Ben will do whatever it takes to be a great parent,” says one insider.
We wish Ben all the best and hope that he continues to receive the support he needs.
