Opening up.

Bachelor Nation met Zac Clark on Season 16 of “The Bachelorette,” and as fans remember, Zac shared his struggle with addiction and journey to sobriety with Tayshia Adams on-screen.

Since his time on the show, Zac has continued to share resources for addiction, mental health, and more through his company Release Recovery Addiction Treatment Center.

Zac has celebrated almost 15 years of sobriety and continues to speak openly about his recovery online.

And recently, the Bachelor Nation star opened up about how being in community helped save him during his recovery journey. 

During an interview on “The Rich Roll” podcast, Zac reflected on overcoming his addiction and said, “Initially I needed a lot of therapy. I needed a lot of separation. Ultimately, I knew that the thing that was going to sustain my recovery long term was going to be community, fellowship, service, prayer, meditation, helping others. And I found all those things in AA.”

He went on, sharing, “Today, almost 15 years into it, it’s AA and [blank]. So AA and therapy, AA and running, AA and going to the concert or playing golf or finding joys in ways previously I really wasn’t able to.”

Zac also discussed receiving a lot of phone calls about people who are no longer around and were in isolation. He said, “For me, the most obvious way to combat that is to throw yourself into the middle of some community. And for me, I’ve been able to do that through AA and through running… It’s amazing what peer-to-peer support can do. Like, really being seen by someone who has been through what you are going through.” 

The Bachelor Nation star gave his advice for those who may be struggling or feel like they’re alone in their journey. 

“It’s achievable for that person who’s sitting out there and feels really alone and feels really scared and feels like there’s no hope. Simply putting that hand up and walking into a room and saying, ‘I need help,’” he expressed. “And I’m not saying a meeting, I’m saying any room. You know, show up to a yoga class and pull the girl aside next to you and say like, ‘Hey, that was a great class. Can I share something with you?’ Just start practicing asking for help.”