Courtney Stodden Reveals She Has Quit Alcohol At 30: 'I Used It To Survive Trauma'
Calling alcohol a toxic escape, the model said she's ready to leave behind unhealthy habits and reclaim her life.
This comes after Courtney Stodden reflected on her abusive marriage at 16 to Doug Hutchison, declaring she'll no longer stay silent and hopes to empower fellow survivors through her journey.
Courtney Stodden Embraces Sobriety At 30: 'Alcohol Turned Into A Trap'
Stodden has officially quit drinking after celebrating her 30th birthday, a move she says has left her feeling "very happy" as she embraces a new chapter focused on sobriety and wellness.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the model and actress, who just landed a Lifetime biopic, said stepping away from alcohol has also helped stabilize her mental health.
"Giving up alcohol also helps with my mental health. I feel better without it," she revealed, adding that she used to lean on alcohol as a way to cope with fame and personal struggles.
"Alcohol was my escape for years, but it turned into a trap," Stodden explained. "I used it to survive trauma, but it ended up making me feel more lost and ashamed. This breakup isn't just with a substance—it's with a version of myself I'm ready to leave behind."
She admitted that what once seemed harmless spiraled into unhealthy patterns: "At some point, blacking out stopped being cute. I used alcohol to deal with pain, but all it did was make things messier—and make me louder in all the wrong ways. I'm finally cutting ties. Alcohol and I? Total toxic ex energy."
The Model Publicly Broke Up With Alcohol: 'It's Been A Toxic Relationship'
Stodden announced her newfound sobriety on Instagram on Tuesday as she wrote, "Alcohol, I'm breaking up with you. It's been a toxic relationship for years. Something I used to cope, to escape, to survive. But it's hurt me more than it's ever helped me—publicly and privately."
"Last night was the last time," she declared. "I'm done letting it control me. I'm done feeling sick and ashamed. I want to be fully present in my life. I want to face my past, my trauma, and my current reality with clear eyes and real strength. To those who understand this battle, thank you."
Stodden added, "Please respect my space as I walk this new path. It's not easy, but it's necessary."
Though she wrestled with whether to make the announcement, Stodden said it felt right to share this deeply personal milestone.
"This is something I've gone back and forth about posting. But my life has always been so public, and this is a big part of my healing," the media personality noted.
Fans And Celebs Rally Around Courtney Stodden's Sobriety Journey
In the comments, fans showed support for Stodden's sobriety journey. One encouraged, "Good for you. You are never ever going to be sad the next morning that you didn't have a drink."
Another shared a personal milestone: "I'm sober 8 months plus at this point. Best decision ever made. Here for you if you need a friend. You got this."
Some offered tips, like "Ginger beer and cranberry juice! Makes you think you are drinking without the hangovers, shame, and regret."
Another wrote, "That's awesome! Sobriety is a wonderful thing and a way to live. It's all about the journey and not the destination."
The Model Reflects On Teenage Her Marriage, Vows To Reclaim Her Voice
Stodden's sobriety announcement comes after she reflected on her controversial past as a teenage bride while marking what would have been her 14th wedding anniversary.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the "Couples Therapy" star admitted marrying "A Time to Kill" actor Doug Hutchison at 16 was a huge mistake, one she refuses to sugarcoat.
Hutchison was 51 when they wed in a Las Vegas chapel in 2011.
"It stays with me, the pain, I won't stay quiet," Stodden said, calling Hutchison "emotionally abusive."
The model then declared: "My voice is my power, and for every voice silenced, I'll shout louder. And I won't ask for permission to do what's right. Not anymore. I speak for that little girl within."
Courtney Stodden Is Living Life On Her 'Own Terms Now'
Stodden further emphasized she intends to live life on her "own terms" and wants to be an inspiration to others who have had a similar experience as her.
"I am living life on my own terms now," she stated. "Everything that's happened in my life, I have handled. I am strong, resilient. I am coming back to myself. I will never let anyone silence me again."
Stodden also hopes her story empowers others: "I want past victims and survivors to really tap into that part of themselves. We are so strong."
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Regina King Pens Touching Tribute to Ex Malcolm-Jamal Warner After 'Cosby Show' Actor's Tragic Death: 'Ride in Power'
"Some people leave a lasting imprint, not just for who they were but for the energy they carried," King wrote of Warner Regina King is paying tribute to her ex Malcolm-Jamal Warner. In the wake of Warner's tragic death at the age of 54 on July 20, King, also 54, shared a pair of Instagram Stories posts paying tribute to the Cosby Show alum, whom she dated in the early 2010s. "Some people leave a lasting imprint, not just for who they were but for the energy they carried," she wrote alongside a photo of Warner on a motorcycle. "I'm sending prayers filled with love and understanding to your family and loved ones. Rest easy Malcolm-Jamal Warner." King shared another photo of Warner on a motorcycle, captioning it, "Ride In Power." King and Warner dated from 2011 to 2013. Little was shared about their relationship, and Warner opened up to BET in October 2011 about why they kept their relationship private. "I think Regina and I are both of the philosophy that we keep our private lives private. All relationships go through all kinds of peaks and valleys. And I think it's unfortunate — when you live in the public eye, of course, your peaks and valleys are going to be heavily scrutinized," he shared at the time. "So we just kind of prefer to protect what we have going on because relationships are work, anyway. We don't need the rest of the world to know our Kool-Aid," Warner continued. "So we like to protect what we have because it's very special and very precious." King hinted that she and Warner were "good" around the time of their split. "Hey everybody PLEASE don't believe everything you read," she wrote in a tweet from March 2013. "Me & [Warner] are good. Life happens. Forward motion. Godspeed." Warner drowned while on a family vacation in Costa Rica. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor's autopsy was completed on Tuesday, July 22, which showed that he died from accidental asphyxiation by submersion. 'The body will be removed from the Judicial Morgue by a funeral service company hired and authorized by Mr. Warner's family,' the organization said. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on July 21, the OIJ said: "The victim appears to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current. The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene." Costa Rican National Police formally identified Warner on Sunday, July 20. They revealed the following day that the actor's cause of death was ruled as the result of drowning, pending the autopsy report. In addition to King, Warner has been remembered throughout the Hollywood community for his work on and off the screen. He has been honored by several of his The Cosby Show castmates, including Bill Cosby and Raven-Symoné. Warner famously played Theodore "Theo" Huxtable throughout the series' eight-season run between 1984 and 1992. Castmates from other shows Warner appeared on have also shared their memories of him, including Tracee Ellis Ross from Reed Between the Lines, Patrick J. Adams from Suits and Emily VanCamp and Morris Chestnut from The Resident, among others. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Warner is survived by his wife and his daughter. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Paramount+ wins'South Park' library and new episodes after prolonged negotiations
(Reuters) -Paramount Global has extended its partnership with "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for another five years, the company said on Wednesday. Under the new deal, Paramount will pay South Park Digital Studios, co-owned by the media giant and Park County, more than $1.25 billion, ranking it among the richest deals in television history, according to an LA Times report from Tuesday. The announcement follows the season 27 premiere of the long-running animated series on Comedy Central. Under the agreement, Paramount will air 50 new episodes across five seasons. The episodes will debut on Comedy Central before streaming on Paramount+ the following day. All 26 previous seasons will also be available on Paramount+, which regained international streaming rights after a period of contractual disputes. The deal concludes protracted negotiations between Paramount and the show's creators, who previously sued incoming Paramount President Jeff Shell, accusing him of interference with rival negotiations involving Warner Bros Discovery and Netflix. Talks were further complicated by the Skydance leadership, which is in the process of acquiring Paramount, reportedly objecting to earlier proposed terms valued at $3 billion over ten years. "South Park" debuted on Comedy Central, a Paramount-owned network, in August 1997. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Julianne Hough Celebrates Brother Derek and His Wife Hayley Erbert's Pregnancy as She Notes What She Hopes to Be Called as an Aunt
Julianne Hough is preparing to step into her newest role: auntie. After Derek Hough and his wife Hayley Erbert shared their exciting baby news, the Footloose actress, 37, shared her congratulations to her brother and sister-in-law via her Instagram Stories. Julianne reshared the couple's announcement video, adding a sweet message in text over it. "Baby Hough is so wise to choose you two as parents 💕," she wrote. "Love Aunt JuJu." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Dancing with the Stars alum, 38, and his wife, 30, who tied the knot in August 2023 in Monterey County, California, announced their baby news with a sweet video on Instagram on Tuesday, July 22. In the heartwarming video, Derek walks over to his wife and the two embrace while overlooking a scenic view. As the two hug, Erbert flashes a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight. "We can't believe the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small ♥️," the couple captioned their joint video post. The couple's big news comes after Derek opened up to E! News in September 2024 about how he and his wife were looking forward to expanding their family dance crew with a few little ones. "We definitely want to have a family eventually,' he told the outlet. 'We'll see what's in the cards, what's on the horizon. Little dancing children running around." is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! In February 2023, the professional dancer and his then-fiancée shared how their timeline for having kids moved up, following meeting fellow dancers Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson's baby boy. "There wasn't a rush on [thinking about kids] until we just met Val and Jenna Chmerkovskiy's baby, and that was when it was kinda like, 'Should we get on this now?" Erbert told Entertainment Tonight, when asked if she and Hough are considering family plans. "It was pretty special, and actually it was cool 'cause Val, he was like, 'Bro, for somebody who creates, this will be your ultimate creation,'" Derek said, recalling what his former fellow DWTS pro told him regarding fatherhood. Read the original article on People
