Braunwyn Windham-Burke is celebrating a major milestone in her sobriety journey.
The Real Housewives of Orange County star, 44, tells PEOPLE she is now two years sober and could not be more “grateful” for how far she’s come.
“My first year of sobriety was about not drinking — it was about taking it one day at a time, finding my people, and settling in,” she says. “It was learning how to deal with what I never thought I could. The second year was where the real work began.”
“I am so grateful to have such an amazing support system, especially my children, Sean, and my mother, and all of the amazing people in the sober community who reach out every day,” Windham-Burke continues.
“As my second year of sobriety closes, I can’t help but think that two years is a hell of a long time without a drink, but such a short time to be sober.”
“There’s still so much work to be done, and I’m so excited for what the next year of sobriety will bring,” she adds.
Windham-Burke revealed that she is an alcoholic in 2020 during the season 15 premiere of RHOC and has been open about her journey with sobriety since.
In October of that year, she told Glamour that the idea of being sober “scared” her for a while.
“I was scared I wouldn’t be fun anymore, that my life was going to be boring. I really thought alcohol made life enjoyable, and that’s sad,” she admitted to the outlet at the time.”
“Nine months later, I realize that’s not true. Honestly, I dance even more now because I can stay awake. I sometimes used to pass out at, like, 7 p.m. because I had been drinking all day. So yeah, I actually have way more fun now.”
On Jan. 9, Windham-Burke posted a video on Instagram with an inspirational message to those struggling with their own sobriety. “I always talk about all the magical parts of sobriety (which it IS!) however, I say it bluntly in this video – sometimes sobriety can SUCK! But I always go back to – it’s not worth how I felt when I was drinking. And even though it feels harder than it is euphoric at times, the euphoria and grounding feeling always comes back! Sending you all love,” she wrote.
Braunwyn Windham-Burke is an American reality television personality who has a net worth of $3 million. Braunwyn Windham-Burke is best known for starring on the reality TV series The Real Housewives of Orange County starting in 2019.
