The Project's Chrissie Swan reveals sobriety: 'Enormous guilt'

The Project's Chrissie Swan revealed on Thursday night that she made the decision nine months ago to stop drinking and has been sober ever since.

The 47-year-old, who is currently on Celebrity MasterChef, said she'd "recommend it" to others after not feeling her best during the first lockdown in Melbourne last year.

Chrissie Swan on The Project
Chrissie Swan shared she's been sober for the nine months on The Project, revealing she was drinking too much during the first lockdown. Photo: Ten

"I really am reticent to be the poster girl for sobriety because it was a decision I made for myself after giving it a fair nudge in the first lockdown last year," she told her co-hosts.

"If you're thinking, 'Oh, maybe I'm drinking a bit much or it's not helping me anymore', I think that's the biggest thing I've taken from it, is that it didn't help."

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She added that the alcohol increased her feelings of anxiety in relation to the pandemic and meant she wasn't sleeping properly.

"With the pressures and anxieties and worries and being responsible for kids and their whole life has changed and you're their parent, you feel enormous guilt, though it's all out of your control," she said.

The Project hosts
Chrissie said the alcohol 'didn't help' her anxiety surrounding the pandemic and made it worse. Photo: Ten

"You kind of feel like having a few drinks will take the edge off, and a couple of drinks does, but eventually it gets to the stage where it doesn't help, and it certainly wasn't helping me.

"My anxiety was through the roof, I wasn't sleeping properly because booze is terrible for sleep."

Chrissie shared that the difference in her positivity was huge, especially considering the pandemic.

Chrissie Swan holding Champagne
Chrissie said that once she stopped drinking she noticed a huge change in her day-to-day positivity. Photo: Instagram/Chrissie Swan

"I really noticed a huge difference in my day-to-day positivity and ability to deal with the pandemic and the ongoing changes to literally every part of our lives if I'm clear minded, and for me it's been fantastic, a fantastic choice," she said.

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She added that others should consider whether it might be "the right time" to quit, explaining: "You have to help yourself."

For alcohol misuse or addiction support, call the National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline on 1800 250 015, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support.

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