How Jennie Garth Really Coped With Her 'Flattening' Divorce From Peter Facinelli

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At one point in her life, Jennie Garth felt like she had lost everything. The former "Beverly Hills, 90210" actor and wellness podcast host said the end of her marriage to Peter Facinelli left her shattered and struggling to survive. On an episode of "What Matters With Liz," Garth discussed the anxiety and isolation that followed the 2012 split. The actor, who shares three daughters with Facinelli, called the experience "flattening." While trying to work through the grieving process of a divorce, she completely withdrew from her friends and family. "I wasn't feeling open to sharing that experience with outside people who could ultimately help me. I was just in my house, closed, isolated," she stated (via Woman's World).

With the challenges in her divorce heightened, Garth explained that she turned to medication and alcohol to ease her anxiety and emotional pain. In her memoir, "I Choose Me: Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose & Embracing Reinvention," she described that she would do anything to numb the pain. "Chug. Just stop this pain ... Mix with medication that I've been given for flying purposes ... I blacked out. I passed out on the floor, and I had my best friend on the phone with me, I think, while that was happening. So she knew I was in danger," the actor recalled (via People).

Jennie Garth explained that her turning point moment was when she hit rock bottom emotionally. She knew she needed to get help, which she received at Canyon Ranch rehab center, per People. While tumultuous, those years following Garth's divorce became some of the most transformative of her life, allowing her to enter a new chapter. The actor has become an advocate for all of the mental health resources you need to get and give help.

This new chapter has allowed her to prioritize her family, wellness, and mental health. The healing helped her be ready to start dating again after the divorce, and she married actor Dave Abrams in 2015. Despite a rough patch in 2018, when Abrams filed for divorce, the two later reconciled, and celebrated their 10 year anniversary in 2025. Professionally, she's launched her own podcast, titled "I Choose Me," which shares the same name as her memoir, and focuses on self-love, empowerment, and navigating life's challenges. Although many years have passed since her separation from Peter Facinelli, Garth's experience continues to resonate publicly because of her honesty about dealing with heartbreak and moving on with her life.