A source tells HollywoodLife.com how David’s break-up lead him to the brink of despair.

David Arquette’s separation from wife Courteney Cox lead to his hard-partying ways over the past few months, until he finally got the wake-up call he needed. HollywoodLife.com spoke exclusively to a source who revealed why David checked into the Betty Ford Clinic for the New Year, and how Howard Stern played a hand in his decision.

“David’s breakup with Courteney has hit him really hard,” a friend of David’s tells us. “With the holidays, things came to a head. The past month has only made everything in his life seem worse.”

In fact, David has already admitted his relationship troubles drove him to alcohol: “I’ve been drinking a lot because I’m heartbroken,” he confessed in December.

When things seemed to hit rock bottom, the star’s good friend Howard urged David to seek rehabilitation for his drinking and depression:

“Howard had to deal with past trauma with Artie Lange and he didn’t want things with David to get out of hand. He respects his friendship with David and was looking to help in any way he could.”

Courteney has expressed her support for her estranged husband, and although she might not have been happy about David’s past interactions with Howard, it seems like the radio show host has done her ex a world of good.

— Lorena O’Neil, reporting by Russ Weakland