Drew Barrymore Relives Childhood Trauma as She Tears up during Mental Health Institution Visit

Actress Drew Barrymore recently visited a mental health institution where she was placed by her parents when she was a teenager, and she got emotional during the visit.

“Charlie’s Angels” star Drew Barrymore took a tour of Los Angeles in celebration of the premiere of Season 2 of “The Drew Barrymore Show” and stopped by the institution where she spent time as a minor.

Drew, now 46, recalled her childhood experience in recent video footage and discussed how it shaped her into the woman she is today.

The California native tearfully shared how she ended up at the institution, detailing her vivid memories of the unfortunate events:

"I was a real wild child, and I just got so out of control that no one knew what to do with me. They drove me here in the middle of the night."

Drew explained they escorted her through the two doors of the building entry, and she said when an individual goes through them, they do not come out. The now director revealed she was there for a year and a half.

Drew previously opened up about being admitted to Van Nuys Psychiatric Hospital when she was 13 years old for 18 months. She disclosed that those in the facility were thrown in the padded room or put in stretcher restraints and tied up.

The star said it dawned on her when she realized that her mom locked her up in an institution but that it did give her much-needed discipline.

The movie star explained she shared her story with her talk show audience because they have helped her recognize that we all experience challenges in life.

The Golden Globe winner was treated for alcohol and drug addiction at the institution, and in an exclusive interview with The Guardian, she described that time in her life as her lowest point. When asked what happened, she said:

"Just knowing that I really was alone. And it felt… terrible. It was a really rebellious time. I would run off. I was very, very angry."

She said the root of her anger was because her parents were not there for her. Her father, actor John Drew Barrymore was a violent alcoholic, and her mother and manager, Jaid Barrymore, was herself a wild child with little knowledge of parental responsibility.

After her parents divorced, the "50 First Dates" star was only nine years old when her mom took her to Studio 54, where she was introduced to drugs and encouraged to dance with famous young men.

At age 14, the child star was legally emancipated from her mother and revealed Jaid, 75, lost all credibility as a mom for introducing her young child to the partying scene. However, she admitted that having been committed to a facility was what she needed.

When asked if Jaid told her about it prior, she said she did not and admitted she would have probably run away. Drew added her mom did go and visit her while at the institution.

The star said it dawned on her when she realized that her mom locked her up in an institution but that it did give her much-needed discipline.

Furthermore, the producer explained she understood why her mother had her committed because her upbringing was not normal. Therefore, something had to give for her to get her life back on track.

Shortly after being released from the facility, she opted to emancipate herself at the institution's advice. According to the clinicians there, they believed she would be better off on her own, which Jaid supported.

When her memoir "Wildflower" was published, Drew shared that she and her mom were barely on speaking terms but ensured she was well off financially.