Colton Haynes Got Real With Instagram About His Mental Health And Substance Use

Colton Haynes's Instagram feed might be full of glamorous red carpet pics and chiseled magazine pictures, however the Arrow star wants fans to know that what they visualize online isn't necessarily the entire reflection of his life. The actor took to Instagram on Sunday, August 18, to open up about his experiences with depression, anxiety, and substance use, and to share why it's so essential for him to speak his truth and open up the discussion surrounding mental health.


The photographs he posted are from his hospitalization last year, following an extended period of substance use, according to Attitude. In March 2019, he instructed them magazine, "In 10 years, there were maybe 25 days I didn't drink... I remember If I began, it was a couple glasses of wine, also it regressed into really dark times." At that time, he was six months sober and had just completed a four-month treatment program. And right now, he wants to share his truth.


"I'm so grateful to be where I am right now ( per year soon after these pictures were taken) yet man these times were dark," he wrote in the new Instagram post.


Haynes also imparted an essential message: there really are things far more critical than projecting a seemingly brilliant life on social media. "I don't want worrying about if I look hot or not on Instagram to be my legacy," he wrote. "I don't aspire to skirt around the truth to please other people or to increase economic success." And whenever he feels grateful to have a successful career doing what he loves, he says he has "far more essential things to mention than what magazine I just shot for or what tv show I'm a part of."


From here on out, the Teen Wolf star wants his social media to give fans a more unfiltered look at his life — because, like the rest of us, it's not brilliant. "I no longer hope to project a curated life," he wrote. "I get immense joy as soon as someone comes up to me & says that my willingness to open up about depression, anxiety, alcoholism, & addiction has helped them in some way." But up until right now, Haynes hasn't quite been able to find his place in the discussion.


"I've struggled the past year with attempting to find my voice and where I fit in & that has been the most cute struggle I’ve ever had to go through," he wrote. Although the actor made a major breakthrough in his Attitude interview earlier this year, as soon as he talked openly about how his use of illegal narcotics and booze spiraled following his coming out in 2016. "I came out and, in a way, my downward spiral began he instructed them mag. "I felt exceptionally free yet at the same time the quantity of attention I was getting was making me spin out of control."


In 2018, mentioned he "fell apart" while dealing with the death of his mother and split from hubby Jeff Leatham simultaneously. "I got so heavily involved with illegal narcotics and liquor to cover the quantity of pain I was feeling that I couldn’t even make some decisions for myself. I was drowning in my own shit."


Right now, the actor would much rather use his platform to show people that they're not alone. "Worrying about what time to post on social media so I can maximize my likes or being furious at myself that I don't look the same way I did any time While I was addicted to pills is a complete waste of why I was put on this earth," he wrote before revealing why he's chosen to open up right now, each year later.


"I'm a human being with flaws just like you," he added. "If ur in the middle of the dark times...I promise you it doesn't have to last forever."