“I Pray This Helps Somebody”: Zach Bryan Candidly Opens Up About His Mental Health and Sobriety Journey

A difficult step, but an admirable one.

Zach Bryan is opening up about his mental health journey, with the ‘Something in the Orange’ singer-songwriter revealing he's been completely sober for the past two months.

It's no secret that the Oklahoma native has experienced his share of high-profile controversies and missteps over the past couple of years, with Bryan being accused of emotional abuse by his ex, Brianna LaPaglia, as well as finding himself embroiled in a series of online spats with Gavin Adcock, Dave Portnoy and more. Throughout it all, Bryan has faced accusations of being overly reliant on alcohol, with many suggesting this dependence is the source of his issues.

Thankfully, it seems Bryan is now in a much better place - and regardless of your views on the country-folk titan, you have to respect the ‘Revival’ hitmaker for sharing his mental health struggles and the ways in which therapy has helped him, with the intention of hopefully helping others that are in the midst of similar battles.

In the caption, Bryan provides some context, “In no way is this a greater than thou sentiment and I’m aware I am one of the luckiest men alive. I pray people don’t take this as me taking my blessings for granted. I wanted to share this because I feel like a lot of people go through mental struggles at times and feel alone in them, which leads plenty to suffer in silence. Here’s me on mental health. I hope it helps someone struggling to find words when they’re down on their luck”.

Then, Bryan reflects on the various challenges he's been experiencing behind the scenes over the course of his meteoric ascent into one of the biggest artists on the planet.

He begins, “On mental health. Recently, I went on a motorcycle trip across the country. For 20 days, I camped and rode looking for a solution. At the end of this ride, I was sitting in a parking lot in Seattle, Washington thinking, “I really need some f***ing help””.

The ‘I Remember Everything’ chart-topper goes on, “Being in the military for a decade and then thrown into a spotlight that I hadn't fully comprehended the scope of, had some subconscious effects on me as a person. I was not content but I also feared showing weakness because that's not who I am or how I was raised. To charge forward and to never settle was the motto. I was stuck in a perpetual discontent that led me to always reaching for alcohol, not for the taste, but because there was a consistent black hole in me always needing its void filled”.

He expands by spelling out some of the hurdles he's had to overcome over the past few years, referencing his various online furores, “I had been lied about and doxxed on the internet, I was helping a close friend through a severe mental break, one of my other best friends was put into a coma by a motorcycle accident, and I was touring the country playing five, sometimes six nights a week”.

Bryan shares, “I was having earth-shattering panic attacks. The anxiety I felt was paralyzing and I thought since I was successful, had the money I always longed for, and had great friends, that I could tough anything out. All that said; I went out of my way to find a therapist and made the conscious decision to do something about my toxic relationship with booze and how I cope with major life changes”.

He concludes, “I haven't touched alcohol for nearly two months now - something I had to do for my own personal clarity. I needed to see the world objectively. My family supported every step I took. Conversations about the future, kids one day, my health and Sammy's happiness made me prioritize not only myself, but my entire family. I feel great, I feel content, I feel whole. There is nothing I need to get me by anymore. If you or any of your friends are too tough, too scared or too stubborn to reach out, know that the most stubborn dumbass on the planet did and didn't regret it. I don't believe in absolutes. One day maybe, I'll learn to control [sic.] my habits, but for now; I just want to say it is okay to be weak at times and need help. God speed everyone! I pray this helps somebody”.

It's reassuring to hear Bryan speak in this way, especially when it comes to prioritising his own wellbeing by eschewing alcohol, as well as his girlfriend Sammy's happiness.

It's easy to forget that being an artist, particularly at this level where, as Bryan expresses, you spend the vast majority of the year out on the road, is not an easy lifestyle. At the end of the day, the focus must always be on health and mental wellness, even if that means we don't get as much music or as many tour-stops.

That being said, Bryan does have a new body of work on the horizon, with the ‘Dawns’ crooner gearing up to release his highly anticipated next album, With Heaven On Top, in January, as well as seemingly embarking on a World Tour at some point next year, judging by a leaked show at Scotland's Murrayfield Stadium in June.

Given how personal and vulnerable Bryan's music is, it'll be interesting to see whether he explores his inspiring personal growth in recent months across With Heaven On Top.

For those struggling with mental health in the music industry, MusicCares offers an array of initiatives designed to help with addiction, financial difficulties and more.

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