Braunwyn Windham-Burke is opening up about her struggles with alcoholism. The Real Housewives of Orange County alum recently discussed her battle with the bottle in an interview with CelebWell, revealing that her disease likely would have killed her if she hadn’t made the decision to get sober. Read on to hear about Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s alcoholism battle and find out what to do if you think you have a drinking problem.
Braunwyn, who left the Real Housewives of Orange County in 2021, reveals that being on the show helped her recognize her disease. “I’ve known for a long time that my drinking wasn’t the same as other people’s,” she says. Like many alcoholics, relapse was part of her recovery. “Every time I relapsed, I hit bottom quicker. I was losing the parts of me that mattered. This time, something was different, and I believe being on the tv show helped me keep me accountable in my sobriety. I am proud to be two years sober, one day at a time,” she says.
Braunwyn was faced with a decision: Live as a sober woman or die as a drunk. “For me, getting sober was a clear cut choice. I knew if I continued to drink it was going to be the death of me, and I didn’t want to repeat my dad’s mistakes and leave my children without a parent,” she says.
The secret to Braunwyn’s sobriety is staying active in the sober community. “I live by the motto ‘one day at a time’—sometimes even one minute at a time,” she says. “I now ask for help. When I’m at my low points, I pick up the phone. Community is the most important part of sobriety.”
How has sobriety changed Braunwyn’s life? “It has transformed my life in every single way,” she maintains. “From my relationships with my family and friends, to myself. I made a vision board of what I want in my life and it’s coming true. However, that doesn’t always mean it’s easy. It’s admitting when you’re wrong, it’s being accountable, it’s relearning, recouping, and re-emerging.”
Braunwyn has a message for anyone struggling with their drinking. “If you think you might have a problem with alcohol, you probably do. Step one would be being honest with yourself. Get real, and don’t drink for that day. Don’t even overthink it- there’s never a good time to quit drinking. Right now is the best time. And always ask for help,” she says. If you think you may have a problem with alcoholism, visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website for more resources or contact your medical practitioner or mental health provider immediately.
