Additional Coverage:
- Zach Bryan admits quick rise to fame after decade of military service led to alcohol dependency (foxnews.com)
Country Star Zach Bryan Opens Up About Sobriety Journey and Mental Health Battle
Nashville, TN – Country music sensation Zach Bryan has revealed he is two months sober, a decision spurred by a series of “earth-shattering panic attacks” and ongoing struggles with his mental health. The singer shared his journey on social media Tuesday, offering a candid look into his relationship with alcohol and the path that led him to stop drinking.
Bryan recounted a transformative motorcycle trip across the country. “For 20 days, I camped and rode looking for a solution,” he wrote in a lengthy Instagram post. The turning point came in a Seattle parking lot, where he realized, “I really need some f—ing help.”
The artist attributed part of his struggles to the abrupt transition from a decade in the military to the intense glare of the spotlight. “Being in the military for a decade and then thrown into a spotlight that I hadn’t fully comprehended the scope of, had some subconscious effects on me as a person,” Bryan explained.
He admitted to feeling a pressure to appear strong, stating, “I was not content but I also feared showing weakness because that’s not who I am or how I was raised. To charge forward and to never settle was the motto.”
This internal conflict led him into a “perpetual discontent,” where he found himself “always reaching for alcohol, not for the taste, but because there was a consistent black hole in me always needing its void filled.”
Bryan detailed the compounding stressors in his life, including being “lied about and doxxed on the internet,” supporting a close friend through a severe mental break, another friend being in a coma after a motorcycle accident, and maintaining a rigorous touring schedule of “five, sometimes six nights a week.” These pressures culminated in paralyzing anxiety and “earth-shattering panic attacks.” Despite his success and financial comfort, he initially believed he could “tough anything out.”
However, Bryan ultimately sought help from a therapist and made a “conscious decision to do something about my toxic relationship with booze and how I cope with major life changes.” He credits his family’s support, along with conversations about his future, potential children, his health, and his girlfriend Sammy’s happiness, for prioritizing his sobriety.
“I haven’t touched alcohol for nearly two months now – something I had to do for my own personal clarity,” he stated, adding, “I needed to see the world objectively.” Today, Bryan reports feeling “great, I feel content, I feel whole. There is nothing I need to get me by anymore.”
The singer hopes his vulnerability will encourage others facing similar challenges. “If you or any of your friends are too tough, too scared or too stubborn to reach out, know that the most stubborn dumba– on the planet did and didn’t regret it.”
While he doesn’t believe in “absolutes” regarding future habits, he emphasized, “it is okay to be weak at times and need help. God speed everyone!
I pray this helps somebody.”
In his caption, Bryan reiterated that his post was not meant to boast, but rather to connect with those feeling isolated in their mental health struggles. “I wanted to share this because I feel like a lot of people go through mental struggles at times and feel alone in them, which leads plenty to suffer in silence,” he wrote. “I hope it helps someone struggling to find words when they’re down on their luck.”
Bryan has faced his share of public controversies, including past arrests, allegations of emotional abuse from his ex Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, and public disputes with other artists. Most recently, his comments regarding ICE raids drew significant backlash, to which he responded on social media, expressing the difficulty of navigating public scrutiny. “Been falling off a cliff while trying to grow wings at the same time,” he reflected.