Jax Taylor Details Sobriety Journey After Sharing Cocaine Addiction

The Valley star Jax Taylor opened up about how his 3-year-old son, Cruz—who he shares with ex Brittany Cartwright—inspired him to get sober.

Jax Taylor is opening up about his sobriety journey.

The Valley star—who recently came forward about his decades-long battle with drug addiction—shared that he used substances to avoid having to face all of the changes happening in his life in recent years.

“I will say drugs and alcohol are not the problem,” Jax, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder last year, told E! News‘ Keltie Knight in an interview that aired April 10. “The problem was I just didn’t address my mental health at all and used drugs and alcohol mask it.

“There’s a two-hour period where I just don’t have to think about my problems,” the Vanderpump Rules alum—who shares 3-year-old son Cruz with estranged wife Brittany Cartwright—explained. “My bipolar, my divorce, my separation, my loss of friends, the TV show, this and that. It’s just so overwhelming, so drinking and substances just helped.”

Jax, 45—who shared that he’s been sober for 132 days—went on to detail the support system that he’s put in place for himself as he continues his journey with sobriety.

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright’s 3-Year-Old Son Cruz Diagnosed With Autism

“You’d be an idiot if you didn’t notice that I was on something,” he said. “There’s a lot of pressure, and I’ve been doing very, very well. I’m in therapy, and I go to AA four times a week. I have a great sponsor. I have a great life coach.”

“The drugs and alcohol weren’t the issue,” Jax continued. “I just didn’t know how to cope with all my demons, because I don’t like being vulnerable. I don’t talk about being sad. I don’t want to talk about my mental health.”

Ultimately, the Bravo star is relieved to be sharing his story with the world and points to Cruz as his biggest reason for doing so.

“It was very tough to come out, but it was something that I needed to do,” Jax noted. “It was a weight lifted off my shoulders. I just needed to do it for myself, and I needed to do it for my son.”

In fact, the reality star credits his son for saving him in more ways than one.

“I did this for my son,” Jax said. “Everyone’s like, ‘You should do this for you first.’ I did this for my son first and then I did it for me. I just couldn’t imagine not being here. I was very close to just not wanting to be here anymore. I didn’t want to be here anymore and I was like, ‘I can’t do this to my son. I can’t be selfish. It’s a cop out. I need to fix myself.'”

He added, “I want my son one day to be like, ‘My dad….there was something wrong with him, and he fixed himself, this is why he’s here today.”