Dax Shepard reveals emotional toll of writing about childhood sexual abuse in deeply personal memoir

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Dax Shepard is writing a memoir where he’ll openly discuss difficult experiences from his past, including childhood sexual abuse.

On Monday’s episode of his podcast, Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard talked about the difficult experience of writing about past trauma. He was speaking with musician Marcus Mumford, who shared that his song ‘Cannibal’ was inspired by his own similar experiences.

For years, I’ve been openly sharing that I was sexually assaulted. Just admitting that was a huge step, and I eventually became comfortable talking about it. Now, I’m writing a memoir, and last year I spent the entire time questioning whether I had the courage to actually write down what happened.

He explained that he wanted to keep the specifics private. He didn’t want anyone imagining what he’d gone through, and it felt strange that even acknowledging it created a barrier. He was willing to admit something happened, but didn’t want to share the details.

According to Shepard, it took him four months to fully put the experience into words for the book.

He confessed that while he’s writing, he can’t shake the feeling of vulnerability knowing others will learn these personal details.

He described experiencing sudden and unexpected shifts in his emotions and mood, and then quickly forgetting the reason behind them.

Shepard explained that finishing that portion of his memoir brought a sense of relief. 

He said completing the project felt like a huge relief.

Shepard first publicly revealed in 2020 that he had been molested as a child. 

He revealed on SiriusXM’s The Jason Ellis Show that he was abused by an 18-year-old neighbor when he was just 7 years old.

He downplayed the abuse, calling it minor, but acknowledged it had a long-term effect and might have played a role in his later struggles with addiction.

Shepard explained it took twelve years before she confided in anyone. For all that time, she blamed herself, thinking, ‘I must have caused this somehow, and maybe it’s because I’m secretly attracted to the same sex,’ as she put it then.

He remembered a moment that changed his perspective, after his mother told him about a connection between difficult childhoods and addiction.

Shepard shared that statistics suggest a high likelihood of substance abuse following sexual assault – specifically, an 80 percent chance of developing an addiction. He admitted this was concerning to him, as he prioritizes enjoying life, and the statistic made him realize he was potentially at risk of addiction himself.

Kristen Bell, his wife whom he married in 2013, later talked about why he chose to share his experiences with the public.

According to Bell, he processed this a long time ago. He didn’t share it as a single moment, but rather lives openly and honestly. Throughout the radio show, he connected with the host, who had a similar experience, and they were able to relate to each other.

She explained that sharing personal struggles can be really valuable if it helps others, but it’s important to do so only when you feel ready. She believes that being open about vulnerability is a deeply meaningful emotion.

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2026-03-03 02:10