Lucy Hale says life 'got really dark' during her struggle with alcoholism: Went to rehab at 23

Lucy Hale, known for her role in hit TV series Pretty Little Liars, has opened up about her personal battles with alcohol and an eating disorder. In a recent episode of Call Her Ddy podcast, 34-year-old star shared her journey, from her earliest encounter with alcohol at a young age to her path to sobriety.

Lucy Hale's early struggles with alcohol

Lucy Hale revealed that her earliest memory of drinking was on vacation at tender age of 12. She recounted a distressing incident where she "blacked out, threw up, and felt deeply distraught" when she realised what h happened. She said that her relationship with alcohol was far from normal, and she mitted that she used it as an escape, even during her youth.

Hale discussed how her drinking and eating disorder were closely intertwined, with one often fueling or. actress said that her struggle with alcohol continued into her late teens, and it wasn't until her early 20s that she recognised she h a problem. She ded that drinking became a constant presence in her life, and she felt uncomfortable in social situations without it.

She said, "I didn't realize I h a problem until my early 20s. I went to rehab when I was 23. I don't think anyone on show [Pretty Little Liars] knew. And it was my choice, too."

However, she revealed that her turning point came during her time on Pretty Little Liars when she secretly went to rehab at age of 23. She described this decision as a "pivotal moment" in her life.

Lucy Hale opens up about path to sobriety

Lucy Hale's path to sobriety was far from straightforward, and she tried various methods, including "rehab, out-patient treatment, in-patient treatment, rapy, medication", and more. In same interview, she stated that her initial attempts at sobriety were not successful, which is why she didn't achieve it until age of 32.

actress shared darker aspects of her journey, including instances where she found herself in risky situations and h to seek medical attention. She disclosed that she was "taken vantage of" in sexual encounters and h used cocaine during her struggles. "I did have moments when I h to go to hospital. It got really dark. I was very s. I was very scared," she ded.

She ded that her journey to sobriety took a significant turn in 2021 when she contracted COVID-19, which forced her to stay home and receive medical treatment. She acknowledged that without pandemic, she might not have taken this crucial step in her life. Having been sober for two years, Hale said that she now looks back at her journey with a sense of "accomplishment and pride". She said that being sober is best thing she has ever done for herself.