Brad Pitt reveals alcohol addiction and why he tried to "cling" to Angelina Jolie

Brad Pitt's drinking became a "problem" last year.

The 53-year-old actor - who split from wife Angelina Jolie last September - admits he has always used substances such as alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana to avoid facing his feelings but he's thankful he's now faced his issues head on.

He said: "I can't remember a day since I got out of college when I wasn't boozing or had a spliff, or something. Something. And you realise that a lot of it is, um - cigarettes, you know, pacifiers. And I'm running from feelings.

"I'm really, really happy to be done with all of that. I mean I stopped everything except boozing when I started my family. But even this last year, you know - things I wasn't dealing with.

"I was boozing too much. It's just become a problem.

"And I'm really happy it's been half a year now, which is bittersweet, but I've got my feelings in my fingertips again. I think that's part of the human challenge: You either deny them all of your life or you answer them and evolve."

But the Fury actor admitted he found it harder to give up alcohol than marijuana.

He told the new issue of GQ Style magazine: "I mean, we have a winery. I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground. I had to step away for a minute. And truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good.

"[I] didn't want to live that way anymore."

Since the breakdown of his marriage, Brad - who has children Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne with Angelina - has been seeing a therapist and "loves" the sessions.

He admitted: "You know, I just started therapy. I love it. I love it. I went through two therapists to get the right one."

And the Tree of Life star is learning to recognise his own "weaknesses and failures" and take responsibility for his actions.

He said: " For me, this period has really been about looking at my weaknesses and failures and owning my side of the street.

"I'm an asshole when it comes to this need for justice. I don't know where it comes from, this hollow quest for justice for some perceived slight. I can drill on that for days and years. It's done me no good whatsoever.

"It's such a silly idea, the idea that the world is fair. And this is coming from a guy who hit the lottery, I'm well aware of that. I hit the lottery, and I still would waste my time on those hollow pursuits."

While Brad is learning to confront the parts of himself he doesn't like, he believes he is slowly reaching an "epiphany" and joy in his life.

He added: "Sitting with those horrible feelings, and needing to understand them, and putting them into place. In the end, you find: I am those things I don't like.

"That is a part of me. I can't deny that. I have to accept that. And in fact, I have to embrace that. I need to face that and take care of that. Because by denying it, I deny myself. I am those mistakes.

"For me, every misstep has been a step toward epiphany, understanding, some kind of joy.

"Yeah, the avoidance of pain is a real mistake. It's the real missing out on life. It's those very things that shape us, those very things that offer growth, that make the world a better place, oddly enough, ironically.

"That make us better."

Meanwhile, Brad says he "refuses" to be drawn into a war of words with Angelina Jolie.

The 53-year-old actor split from his wife last September following an alleged row on board a private jet between himself and their eldest son Maddox, 15, and though things were initially acrimonious between the former couple, now that child protection services are no longer investigating the Moneyball star, they are trying to resolve their differences amicably for the sake of their six children.

Brad said: "I was really on my back and chained to a system when Child Services was called.

"And you know, after that, we've been able to work together to sort this out. We're both doing our best. I heard one lawyer say, 'No one wins in court - it's just a matter of who gets hurt worse.'

"And it seems to be true, you spend a year just focused on building a case to prove your point and why you're right and why they're wrong, and it's just an investment in vitriolic hatred.

"I just refuse. And fortunately, my partner in this agrees. It's just very, very jarring for the kids, to suddenly have their family ripped apart. If anyone can make sense of it, we have to with great care and delicacy, building everything around that."

And the World War Z star doesn't want to end up filled with "hatred" for the 41-year-old actress.

He told GQ Style magazine: "I see it happen to friends - I see where the one spouse literally can't tell their own part in it, and it's still competing with the other in some way and wants to destroy them, and needs vindication by destruction, and just wasting years on that hatred. I don't want to live that way."

Brad admits he initially wanted to "cling on" to Angelina but has now grown to realise he needs to let her go.

He added: "The first urge is to cling on. And then you've got a cliche: If you love someone, set them free.

"Now I know what it means, by feeling it. It means to love without ownership. It means expecting nothing in return."

Since splitting from Angelina Brad has vowed to put his "family first" and make sure they have his full attention.

He said: "Kids are so delicate. They absorb everything. They need to have their hand held and things explained. They need to be listened to. When I get in that busy work mode, I'm not hearing. I want to be better at that."

Brad also says he wants to speak more openly to his brood about how he's feeling.

He added: "I come from a place where, you know, it's strength if we get a bruise or cut or ailment we don't discuss it, we just deal with it. We just go on. The downside of that is it's the same with our emotion.

"I'm personally very retarded when it comes to taking inventory of my emotions. I'm much better at covering up. I grew up with a Father-knows-best/war mentality--the father is all-powerful, super strong -instead of really knowing the man and his own self-doubt and struggles.

"And it's hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them. I have to show them. And I haven't been great at it."

- Bang! Showbiz