Drew Barrymore Opens Up About How Her Time In Rehab May Have Influenced ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ In Emotional Blog Post

In an emotional Mother’s Day blog post, Drew Barrymore looked back on the lessons she learned in rehab as a teenager. The “vulnerable” exercises they did stuck with her into adulthood and motherhood, she writes, so much so, it has even carried over into her hit day time talk show.

According to Barrymore, every Wednesday, all the patients would sit in a circle in a large room, and a family would sit together in the center. The “revealing and healing” exercise encouraged those that participated to “not sweep anything under the rug,” she writes.

“And with that I realized the purpose behind the show. Get vulnerable and be as silly as possible too. But LEARN.  I have loved learning my whole life, from every source I am lucky enough to get some pollen from,” she said.

Reflecting on this exercise, she writes, helped her come to the realization that The Drew Barrymore Show has become “like the room” where they conducted that exercise.

“The show is like the room. And all feelings are welcomed, and all behaviors are not,” she writes. “Was my whole life a lead up to continue to fight for and protect an open discussion and dialogue about who we are, what we need, want, must do, have done, want to do, are figuring out … with a lot of laughter to make it all ok at the end of the day?”

Barrymore has become known for her up-close-and-personal interviewing style with her guests, often resulting in candid and emotional interviews. She notes that one “poignant subject” that has come up on The Drew Barrymore Show recently is the topic of mothers.

“This year in particular I have been able to discuss many dynamics with and about mothers. And it hasn’t been easy, as most people who have shared their truths no longer have to worry about their mother’s reaction’s because they have passed on,” she wrote. “My mother is still here. And I worry every day that something in my exploration will hurt her feelings. Because that isn’t what I want.”

The actress and talk show host got emancipated from her mother’s custody at the age of 14 after completing her time in rehab.

Though she described the institution as “hellacious,” Barrymore admits, “It was exactly what I needed from the too much excess my life had become on the outside.”

The Drew Barrymore Show airs on weekdays on CBS. You can check the website for local airtimes.