‘I Used It To Survive Trauma’

Courtney Stodden has announced she has quit alcohol to focus on her sobriety and mental health.

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.