For Shailene Woodley, sometimes healing means getting down and dirty.
The Big Little Lies star shared insight into navigating "the lowest low" of her life in February 2022 following her breakup with Aaron Rodgers with the help of her best friend Kris Zero—and some animals.
"We'd go surf, and for ten minutes that day, I thought life could be OK again," Shailene explained to Outside magazine in an interview published Dec. 3. "Then the depression would come back and she'd go, 'We're volunteering at the horse ranch!' And we'd find a random f--king horse ranch, and we'd clean up horse s--t. We'd clean hooves and brush the horses, and for 20 minutes that day, I thought life could be OK again."
The 33-year-old explained that her friend would find more activities to do whenever she was in a low spot. She added, "She'd wake me up the next morning and go, 'Let's go on a hike and bring trash bags and clean up trash!'"
She also shared more insight into her depressive episode. "I felt like I lost my soul, my self, my happiness, my joy," she recalled. "I really understood depression and anxiety and, like, complete soul detachment."
She admitted that she stayed in a "toxic situation" due to her empathy and noted that, "Empathy kind of kept me in this loop of feeling everything for everyone."
It's been difficult for the Divergent actress to open up about her romance with the athlete, whom she went public with in February 2021.
"I haven't shared much about my relationship with Aaron," she tearfully noted, because it "always makes me cry. It was not right. But it was beautiful."
But it's all part of the process for Shailene, who previously shared that her broken heart that "healed and broke again" helped her grow as a person.
"I fell in love over and over with unavailability," she told Bustle in September. "I'm very open as a human. I love easy and I care easy, but I do not love lightly, and I do not care lightly."
"It's really taken me a lot of time to understand that it's not on me to fix or heal or do anything about [a relationship] other than protect the deep care and love that I have for the world and for my people," she continued. "Ultimately, that has helped me walk away without the need to understand why certain things didn't play out the way that I may have desired them to."
Now, keep reading for a look back at Shailene and Aaron's relationship.
February 2021: It's Official!
In February 2021, E! News reported that Aaron and Shailene were dating. A few days later, the NFL player announced that he and the actress were engaged.
March 2021: Getwaway Trip to Arkansas
The NFL quarterback and his fiancée were all smiles on their trip to Arkansas while posing for a photo with the crew from Best Cafe and Bar.
Arpil 2021: Instagram Live
The two went live on Instagram to answer 10 fan questions about Aaron's two-week role as the Jeopardy! guest host. "You guys thought he was a football dude," Shailene said, before telling Aaron, "No one knows the real you!" She later joked about their life at home, "Who else gets in fights with their partners about how much they get to cuddle with their dog?... Is it just us?"
April 2021: Spotted at Disney World
The newly engaged couple embraced each other with a hug while spending time at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. during Easter weekend.
April 2021: Spotted at Disney World
The pair held hands together while wearing matching Star Wars face masks at Disney World.
May 2021: The Kentucky Derby
The couple showed off their Sunday best while attending the Kentucky Derby with friends.
February 2022: Game Over
A source confirmed to E! News that Aaron and Shailene called it quits after more than a year together. "They are two very different people," the source shared. "They are both focused on their careers but it took them in separate directions."