Jason Wahler is reflecting on his challenging journey to sobriety and what it was like to finally make amends with Lauren Conrad.
While appearing on the E! News digital series Just the Sip with host Justin Sylvester, Jason spoke candidly about the relationship, admitting their reconciliation played a key factor in his healing.
Related: Brody & Kaitlynn’s Open Relationship: ‘The Hills’ Costars React!
The OG fans out there know the pair’s tumultuous relationship and Wahler’s struggles with remaining sober were heavily documented on The Hills when it first aired back in 2006. After the couple split, Jason left the reality TV show the following year.
The 32-year-old explained why it was important to revisit those painful memories in order to move forward:
“Part of the process of recovery and living your life sober is making amends and I made amends to Lauren. It’s freeing. When you can take ownership of your actions and let people know you truly want to make things right and you apologize and you take the actions to fix what you did, it feels good.”
After his exit from the MTV show in 2007, Wahler was involved in numerous alcohol-related arrests, spent time in prison, and went to rehab before getting sober in 2014.
The Laguna Beach alum admitted he isn’t exactly proud of his bad-boy past — but he’s come to terms with it:
“I’m not proud of it, but 10 to 12 years ago I was the drunk, womanizing alcoholic. After we shot Laguna Beach and going into season one of The Hills is when my addiction took full force. Drugs and alcohol were my solution.”
Reflecting on a time where his substance abuse made him question his desire to live, Wahler added:
“I was just a sad, lost individual and the depths of my addiction took me to not contemplation but attempting suicide. I got to a really, really dark place.”
Oh no…
Fortunately, the star is in a much better place in life now and is proud of the person he’s become:
“I’ve definitely transformed. I’m happy to be able to say that. I’m content in my own skin. I can sit here and look you in the eye and I’m comfortable, I’m confident, I’m happy. I’ve got a great group of people around me.”
We’re so glad to hear this!
The candid conversation with E! comes just days after an episode of The Hills reboot dealt with him suffering a relapse after years of staying clean.
Jason explained why he isn’t ashamed for the world to witness his slip-ups this time around:
“Me and my wife took a hard look at what we were getting into and made sure to process what the possibilities could be to come out of this. I think the thing that really turned me into this was…this is almost like God’s work. He has given me this platform. I should have been dead 10 different times and I go this is an opportunity for us to use this platform to show people that you could change your life.”
Offering more details about the televised relapse, he continued:
“We took the risk and obviously I had a slip during that time almost close to a year ago but I’m okay with that because it’s allowing me to explain what happened and be able to give insight from a person that’s in a recovery how hard it is to get back.”
As we reported earlier this year, Conrad declined an offer to return to the reboot with her former circle which included Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Whitney Port, Brody Jenner, Justin “Bobby” Brescia, Audrina Patridge, and Stephanie Pratt.
We hope Jason’s choice to participate really does help some people struggling out there.
[Image via FayesVision/Nicky Nelson/WENN]
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