Now 30, she has been on antidepressants ever since.
She was balancing that with watching her father struggle with opioid addiction.
The addiction put a strain on their relationship, causing them to lose contact.
She began drinking to deal with everything going on in her life.
“At the end of the day, I am a product of a family with substance-abuse issues.
As JoJo got back to music, she began opening up to her fans about her mental health.
“Made me question if I’m ‘good enough’ to do anything consistently.
Made it hard to follow through and to have healthy long lasting romantic relationships without sabotaging them.”
“When I was younger, my dad came to pick me up from my mom’s place.
“He was like, ‘Just you wait.
Addiction is like Arnold Schwarzenegger pumping iron in your backyard just waiting for you.'”
JoJo was not going to make his past her future.
“I remember telling him, ‘I don’t accept that as my fate.
I’ll never forget that.”
As an adult, she has found a way to have a healthy relationship with alcohol today.
“My relationship with alcohol is different now.
I don’t drink to escape,” she said.
“I’m really excited for 30, because I hear it gets better,” she told People.
“My 20s were just about seeking approval.
Now if I approve of myself, that’s all I need.
That confidence really reverberates.
It’s very powerful.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
