Fredrik Eklund is feeling better than ever after quitting drinking.
The 43-year-old “The Million Dollar Listing” star revealed that he is sober for 160 days in a long and emotional Instagram post on Thursday.
“I was a highly functional addict like many of us, and it took me a while to realize and admit it,” he wrote. “I am a work in progress, still. The decision to stop was not an easy one. But once I really decided, it was really liberating. The pressure has eased somewhat. The pressure of not being honest. The pressure of always putting up a facade. The pressure and the pain of not trusting myself in the end. “
The realtor added that he no longer “feels alone” and “[doesn’t] worry about the future as [he] used to ”- especially when it comes to your family. He married Derek Kaplan in 2013, and they welcomed twins Mila and Freddy in 2017.
“I don’t question my ability as a father as I used to,” he said.
He joked that “it’s actually more fun” when he is sober and is finding new ways to enjoy the experiences, such as eating and drinking with mocktails before riding a horse.
He also noted that the decision was about him, not those around him.
“When you stop drinking, people around you can be defensive, saying ‘well, I don’t have a problem, I don’t even drink so much’, as if I’m criticizing them. I’m not. This is about me. Sharing my reality and hoping to inspire those in need, ”he wrote.
Eklund is not the first Bravolebrity to talk about sobriety.
“Vanderpump Rules” star Lala Kent, “RHONY” fan favorite Leah McSweeney and “RHOC” Braunwyn Windham-Burke, all talked about their journeys in recent months.
Windham-Burke gave credit to “Below Deck: Mediterranean” star Captain Sandy Yawn for helping her navigate sobriety on camera, as Yawn has been sober for more than three decades.
In addition, Carl Radke from “Summer House” told E! in February he was sober for a month.