'I was scared of everything': Pete Wentz reveals how divorce from Ashlee Simpson left him paranoid and abusing prescription drugs

PUBLISHED: 20:18 EST, 8 May 2013 | UPDATED: 01:41 EST, 9 May 2013

Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz has revealed how his divorce from Ashlee Simpson left him paranoid and addicted to prescription drugs.

The 33-year-old songwriter and bassist said the band's 2009 hiatus contributed to increased drug use that he had curtailed after the 2008 birth of his son Bronx with Ashlee.

His abuse of prescription pills Xanax and Klonopin resumed after the hiatus and the ensuing collapse of marriage lead to bouts of paranoia.

Candid interview: Pete Wentz, shown on Wednesday with girlfriend Meagan Camper, recently opened up about his past drug abuse and fallout from his high-profile divorce from Ashlee Simpson

'I was probably physically and mentally addicted. It started from insomnia and anxiety from flying, then it spiraled,' he told Rolling Stone in its latest issue.

Ashlee filed for divorce in February 2011 and Pete said his life took an even more downward turn.

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'I felt like a loser already,' he said. 'I'd basically gone from being the guy in Fall Out Boy to being the guy, who, like, hangs out all day. I didn't see how I'd ever come out on the other side.'

Better place: Pete and Meagan enjoyed lunch on Monday in Los Angeles

The divorce also began to take a major psychological toll on him.

'I was scared of everything. I thought there were always people listening to me. Like, I had my house searched for bugs. It was crazy.'

Pete said therapy and his devotion to four-year-old Bronx helped him straighten out.

Strong couple: Pete and Wentz have been dating since his 2011 divorce from Ashlee Simpson

'You’re up in the morning, and you have to really be there,' he said. 'It’s not like getting up for a radio interview. In some ways, that was superhelpful for my soul.'

Pete has been in a relationship with model Meagan Camper, 24, since his divorce from Ashlee.

The music label owner and rock star shares joint custody of Bronx with his ex-wife.

Since Fall Out Boy went on hiatus, Pete has kept busy with a new record label, Decaydance Records, which has signed bands such as Panic! at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes.

Family time: Pete and Ashlee shown spending some time with their son Bronx in May 2011 in Los Angeles

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Xanax is great;)

- ms gorg , dublin, Ireland, 09/5/2013 22:58

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If you didn't know any better, this article would lead you to believe that Fall Out Boy are still on hiatus, which they aren't... nice of you to mention that DM. And Pete seems a lot more grounded this time around with the band, no longer trying to grab the spotlight. Good on him for seeing the error of his ways and coming out better from it.

- Clare13 , Scotland, United Kingdom, 09/5/2013 22:39

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well now hes dating a man?! men with long hair is not cute...

- Jayden Jr. Stradmen , Westville County, United States, 09/5/2013 22:26

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Pete is the very definition of emo. I think he's great and it's not really anyone else's business as to what he calls his own child.

- JPFB , Oxford, United Kingdom, 09/5/2013 22:07

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I love Fall Out Boy's music! Listen to their new album "Save Rock and Roll"

- jjermyn , New York, United States, 09/5/2013 19:58

Click to rate Rating 8

Wish I was attending Reading this year. Great line up. Well done Pete and the rest of FOB for ignoring the haters and playing music.