Lala Kent of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules” is talking about her dependence on alcohol and her newfound sobriety.
The 28-year-old reality TV star told her followers via Instagram Stories on Sunday that she is an alcoholic.
“Five months ago, I came to the realization that I am an alcoholic, and I am now a friend of Bill W., which you will never know how much this program means to me [and] has given me new life,” Kent said. Bill W. is in reference to William (Bill) Griffith Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.
“You’ll never know how much this program means to me,” she said. “When I’m having the roughest day I could possibly have, I can for once see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The reality star also opened up about her late father, Kent Burningham, whom she lost last year and how the program has helped her get through her toughest days.
“I’m so grateful that I have this program and that I can mourn him,” Kent said. “The program has allowed me to sit down and remember my dad in a clear frame of mind and remember what he brought to my life ― what he meant to me, what he taught me.”
Kent spoke with Cosmopolitan about her drinking back in December, saying that she “was falling into a pattern” and using it to self-medicate.
“Drinking for me was medication instead of celebration. Instead of going and talking to somebody about losing someone extremely important to you, we turn to things to medicate,” she said.
Kent implored Cosmo readers to “reach out to someone, reach out to a grief counselor, partner with someone who can make you feel like you’re not by yourself and going completely insane” instead of using alcohol to cope.