Chrissy Teigen Gets Honest About Falling Back Into Old Habits

Chrissy Teigen is pulling back the curtain on a deeply personal relapse and recovery journey, admitting that alcohol quietly found its way back into her life after years of sobriety. 

The model and TV personality is now 52 days sober again and says this time feels different. 

In a candid confession shared with fans, Teigen detailed how “mindful” drinking spiraled, why a conversation changed everything, and how she is approaching sobriety with less spectacle and more honesty.

On Tuesday, Chrissy Teigen shared an update about her sobriety in a deeply personal Instagram post. 

The television personality revealed that after giving up alcohol in December 2020, she eventually began drinking again late last year following a long stretch of abstinence. 

The 40-year-old explained that the return to drinking did not happen all at once, but gradually, under the belief that it could be controlled. 

She admitted she told herself it would be done in a “mindful” way, tied to special moments rather than habit.

In her words, she wanted to “be able to have a glass of wine on a date night” and to toast birthdays and milestones. 

Teigen framed it as a reward, a way to enjoy the life she feels lucky to have. 

However, she acknowledged that this thinking marked the beginning of the problem, as drinking slowly became something familiar again rather than occasional.

Chrissy Teigen did not shy away from describing how quickly her boundaries slipped. 

What started as evening wine slowly crept earlier into the day, moving from 6 p.m. to 5 p.m., then 4 p.m., until lunchtime felt acceptable. She admitted the moment it hit 11 a.m., reality set in.

She wrote, “When it got to 11am, I was like, oh f*ck, here we go again.” Teigen stressed that this wasn’t chaotic or visibly destructive drinking, noting that it was “quiet and consistent.” 

Still, the impact was clear. “I felt like sh*t. I missed being able to pick up my keys for a last-minute grocery run. But it wasn’t messy enough yet to stop.”

Teigen explained that a conversation with “Summer House” star Carl Radke became a turning point. 

After Radke shared his own sobriety journey on her “Self-Conscious” podcast, she said his honesty and openness had a profound effect on her. 

In a lengthy Instagram post, she expressed gratitude for his willingness to speak candidly about addiction and recovery.

She wrote that within the same week of talking to Radke, she stopped drinking again. 

At the same time, she was in talks for a new role on "Star Search" and made it clear she didn’t want alcohol anywhere near that opportunity. 

In her words, “I had been in talks for Star Search and knew that if I were given the incredible chance to be on the show, there was absolutely no f*cking way I’d do it with alcohol in my dressing room.”

Chrissy Teigen explained that her current stretch of sobriety feels nothing like the first time she quit. 

She recalled that the initial decision years ago came with excitement, momentum, and encouragement from those around her. 

This time, she described the experience as quieter and less celebrated. 

“I think the biggest difference between now and and the first time is that there’s no pomp around it,” Teigen shared.

She reflected on whether people lose faith after a relapse, or whether self-doubt plays a role, comparing it to getting back together with an ex everyone warned you about. 

The excitement, she said, simply isn’t there the second time around. Still, Teigen emphasized that the lack of a spectacle hadn’t weakened her resolve, but it had just changed the emotional landscape of the journey.

Teigen ended her message by confirming she is now 52 days sober and has no desire to return to drinking. 

She shared that sobriety hasn’t dulled her personality or emotions, noting that she can still be funny, nervous, anxious, and fully herself without alcohol.

She emphasized that she’s learning she can move through life’s highs and lows without relying on drinking as a crutch.

“I love you guys. Thank you for listening!! Enjoy our talk, because it changed my life. No big deal,” she concluded.

For Teigen, this chapter isn’t about perfection, but about honesty, awareness, and choosing to keep going.