Ben Affleck Says He Has Been Taking Antidepressants Since Age 26

Ben Affleck is opening up further about his mental health.

In the second part of an interview with Diane Sawyer for Good Morning America, which aired Friday, the 47-year-old actor and filmmaker reveals he has been taking antidepressants for more than 20 years.

“I get depressed. I take antidepressants. They’re very helpful for me,” Affleck says. “I’ve taken them since I was 26 years old, various different kinds. I’ve switched and tried this and tried that. Sometimes they won’t tell you about some awful side effect and you’ll come back and say, ‘Why am I 60 pounds heavier?’ “

“And [the doctor says], ‘Oh, well you put on a little weight.’ And it’s like, ‘Oh, well thanks!’ ” adds The Way Back actor with a smile.

The revelation is part of a deep-dive talk in which the star discusses his struggles with alcohol, the “plenty of mistakes” he feels he has made and his divorce from Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three children: Samuel Garner, 8 this month, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, 11, and Violet Anne, 14

Call Now Button