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WARNING: mention of childhood abuse
Jessica Simpson has been sober for four years—and you can tell just by looking at her.
American singer, actress, and fashion icon Jessica Simpson announced she has maintained four years of sobriety by sharing a picture from her rock bottom.
The photo, which depicts her near the end of 2017, was one Simpson herself described as being "unrecognizable," and how it made her determined "to take back my light, show victory over my internal battle of self respect, and brave this world with piercing clarity."
This person in the early morning of Nov 1, 2017 is an unrecognizable version of myself. I had so much self discovery to unlock and explore.
 pic.twitter.com/LEBoj7AsTS
— Jessica Simpson (@JessicaSimpson) November 1, 2021
She wrote:
"Personally, to do this I needed to stop drinking alcohol because it kept my mind and heart circling in the same direction and quite honestly I was exhausted."
"I wanted to live as a leader does and break cycles to advance forward ― never looking back with regret and remorse over any choice I have made and would make for the rest of my time here within this beautiful world."
Simpson also expressed disbelief four years had already passed since the photo was taken, but it was "a good thing."
I can't believe it has been 4yrs! It feels like maybe 2. I think that is a good thing. Ha. There is so much stigma around the word alcoholism or the label of an alcoholic. The real work that needed to be done was to actually accept failure, pain, brokenness, and self sabotage.
— Jessica Simpson (@JessicaSimpson) November 1, 2021
Simpson, 41, also shared a deeply personal story about how she became addicted to alcohol and stimulants and the catastrophic night that led to her finally getting the help she needed.
The story was published as part of Simpson's 2020 memoir, Open Book. In her memoir, Simpson wrote she had originally turned to alcohol and stimulants as a way to cope with traumatic memories of being sexually abused as a child.
The final straw for Simpson was Halloween night in 2017, when her drinking got so out of control she ended up missing the holiday with her children.
On the morning of that fateful Halloween, Simpson had already began drinking by 7am, when she and husband Eric Johnson had to attend a school assembly with their daughter Maxwell.
Simpson wrote by nightfall she had become so inebriated she was unable to take her children trick or treating.
"I am ashamed to say that I don't know who got them into their costumes that night."
"I slept in, afraid to see them, afraid I had failed them. I hid until they left, then drank."
The next morning, Simpson decided to get sober and get control of her life back.
And now, four years later, Simpson is sober and thriving.
Twitter was flooded with support and celebration for Simpson's sobriety journey.
Congratulations Jessica 💗 I celebrated 4 years sober in July. Free is exactly what it is. I am free. Admitting my alcoholism was the best thing I ever did.
— Becca - The Unashamed Alcoholic Podcast (@UnashamedAlc) November 1, 2021
Jessica Simpson 2017 pic. I did NOT see that coming. What a recovery 😳
— Vol fan😵💫 🖤🧡🐝 (@SEC_CRNA) November 2, 2021
Wow reading this post got me emotional, I relate to what you said, I'm gonna be 14 months sober this month and as time goes by I realize too that drinking wasn't really THE PROBLEM, drinking was just a way to not feel the problem wich was me. Quitting was hard but worth it.
— Pop Culture Icon (@TheIconPop) November 1, 2021
Congrats and thank you so much for using your platform to share your journey, it helps people to keep going on with their sobriety and maybe/probably will help some people getting sober. 🙏🏼 be proud of yourself and everything you've accomplished so far.
— Pop Culture Icon (@TheIconPop) November 1, 2021
👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️
biggest congrats to you @JessicaSimpson .
thank you for sharing yourself in this way and inspiring so many .
<3 https://t.co/B1CnchL8mv
— wrabel . \rā-bəl\ (@wrabel) November 1, 2021
Everyone's personal growth journey is different and complex, and oftentimes, rehab can't “fix" it. It's deeply personal to experience this type of awakening. It's refreshing to see someone acknowledge their brokenness & growth - a reminder that this is a universal struggle. https://t.co/7wgYoEpp5z
— Makenzi Jordan Rodriguez (@makenzi_jordan) November 1, 2021
Beautiful and honest thread that I think many women on the self love/healing journey can relate to♥️ https://t.co/9vlNaBoCf9
— Sara Pearl (@skenigsberg) November 1, 2021
Jessica Simpson posted this picture of herself which I believe is roughly 4 years ago on her first day of sobriety. I may not be in to her music personally, but I think this is very brave of her to do. Anyone can change just about anything if they put their mind to it. ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/DpUbnJs1pQ
— Erin Elizabeth Health Nut News (@unhealthytruth) November 2, 2021
All the best to Jessica Ann Simpson!
— ᴅᴏʟʟᴀʀ (@callmedollar) November 1, 2021
This is someone who's done real, honest-to-goodness therapy and it's the most amazing thing to see.
Congrats to Jessica and everyone else who've done and are still doing the the hardest work any human can ever have.
Remember, #MentalHealth is the key to everything in life. https://t.co/BoQzQccXuc
— joey @ComplexTraumaProject.org (@JoeyVazquez_) November 1, 2021
Congrats @JessicaSimpson 🙏👏 https://t.co/T5mk8bYioO
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) November 2, 2021
Simpson wrote:
"The real work that needed to be done in my life was to actually accept failure, pain, brokenness, and self sabotage."
"The drinking wasn't the issue. I was. I didn't love myself. I didn't respect my own power. Today I do."