Courtney Stodden Spotlights Sobriety With '1st Alcohol Free Birthday'

Courtney Stodden is 31 and sober!

The reality TV star marked their new age on Friday, August 29, dropping an emotional post about their successful sobriety journey. They claimed the occasion was the first birthday they would celebrate as an adult without alcohol.

Courtney Stodden rose to fame as a child bride when they tied the knot to 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison at 16 in 2011. They came out as non-binary in 2021 and initially used they/them pronouns before updating it to she/they in 2022.

The "Reality Ex-Wives" alum celebrated their 31st birthday on Instagram, dropping a video that captured them wearing a tiara before blowing out the candles on a stunning pink cake. They were in high spirits as they blew the glitter that adorned the cake at the camera, flaunting their curves in a silver sequin top.

"Today I'm 31. 1st alcohol free birthday since turning 17!!! If I could talk to the girl I was at 21 and honestly, to anyone out there who feels lost right now... this is what I'd say," Stodden began their lengthy caption. They advised people not to give up, assuring them they would overcome their challenges like they did.

"I survived what should have destroyed me. I'm beginning my sober journey... I'm unlearning a lot of toxic habits," Stodden declared, noting they hoped to inspire others to keep fighting until they made it. "If you're out there and this resonates, let this be your reminder: you're not alone," they added.

Two days before their birthday, Stodden reflected on their sobriety journey by teasing fans with a shirtless picture. Their luscious blonde hair fell down their shoulders in graceful waves, complementing the seductive vibe of their post.

Although they caught fans' attention with the tempting picture, the goal of the post was to address their alcohol-free lifestyle. "Last Days of 30... and My First Birthday Sober Since 17. I don't know how to put into words what I feel tonight…," Stodden began their caption.

They claimed their last days of being 30 were "quiet and heavy" as they sometimes wondered if people could truly see them after spending years learning to smile and perform for the public. They noted they felt invisible and hoped their new age would bring more happiness and blessings.

While reflecting on surviving 43 days without alcohol, Stodden confessed that they tried to be proud and grateful for their success; however, sobriety did not fill all the spaces within them. They described themselves as contradictory, claiming they were "strong yet fragile," and "celebrated yet misunderstood."

"I hold all of myself... even the messy, tender pieces. I trust God has me... Perhaps this year I will carve out a place where I belong," they concluded their post. Weeks before their birthday, Stodden celebrated their first month without alcohol in an Instagram post.

They shared a series of pictures, with the first capturing them in denim shorts and a tan tank top with a matching light-colored handbag. They looked happy and healthy as they flashed a smile for the camera. Their post earned supportive messages from fans who applauded their sobriety efforts.

Stodden revealed they stopped drinking in a July interview, noting they gave up alcohol to improve their mental health. The Blast covered the story, reporting that they claimed liquor was their coping mechanism for years before they realized it was a trap.

"I used it to survive trauma, but it ended up making me feel more lost and ashamed," Stodden confessed. They stressed that obtaining sobriety wasn't to quit drinking but to break up with the version of themselves they no longer wished to be associated with.

As for what sparked their sobriety journey, Stodden noted they realized they had fallen into a series of unhealthy patterns. They stopped finding blacking out after excessive drinking cute and got tired of the toxicity they developed from alcohol.

Months before addressing their sobriety journey, The Blast shared that Stodden had reflected on their past issues with John Legend's wife, Chrissy Teigen. They called out the media personality on the Hulu documentary, "Confessions of a Child Bride."

They noted Teigen was among those who publicly criticized their marriage to Hutchison, a man three times their age, at 16. They noted the entertainer told them to take a "dirt nap," a slang term used to tell people to die. Those words significantly impacted the then-teenager's mental health.

"I did actually almost succeed at committing suicide because of ... this was a huge part of it," Stodden lamented. They claimed they had written a suicide note and wanted to end their life as Teigen told them to. They stressed that they did not deserve the cruel treatment they received from a fellow woman.

Here's to hoping Courtney Stodden can maintain their sobriety streak!