Lucy Hale celebrates major milestone in her sobriety journey after ‘Rock Bottom’

Actress from “Pretty Little Liars” Lucy Hale has something to be proud of these days. In an Instagram post, Hale celebrated the four-year milestone of her sobriety journey, calling it the “greatest gift” of her life.

Lucy Hale, 36, has spoken openly about her former struggles with alcohol, recalling a moment she described as her “rock bottom”. Today, she uses her own journey to encourage others to take the first step like she did.

“4 years ago I reached a very dark chapter and my personal lowest point,” Hale captioned an Instagram post of a calendar that showed the exact time, to the hour, that she was sober. “It’s crazy to say, but it ended up being the greatest gift and the biggest turning point of my life.”

Hale explained that reaching the four year mark in her sobriety journey hasn’t always been easy, describing the pain and discomfort she felt along the way. According to the “Road Between” artist, overcoming my discomfort “gave me back my life.”

The poignant Instagram post included a message of hope to those who may also be struggling with addiction. “Please know this: There is always a chance to do it again.” The actress urged everyone seeking sobriety to keep going and keep speaking out about their stories.

At the same time, Hale encouraged them to have the courage to ask for help. “And remember that you truly deserve a life to be proud of,” she wrote, adding an even more important message. “Your existence matters, and so does the story you carry. It gets better.”

At the end of her post, Hale shared a key insight she gained during her four-year journey. “I realized that darkness is not always something to fear,” she wrote. “This is often what leads us towards the light.”

“The Hating Game” actress has spoken openly about her past relationship with alcohol and what it took for her to start living a sober life. In an interview with PEOPLEHale explained that she always had a “desire” to change, but didn’t have the strength to move forward.

Continuing, Hale said she had to approach sobriety in her own way, admitting she often took steps backwards.

However, at age 32, Hale decided to take control of her life after “hitting rock bottom.” The “Bionic Woman” singer said she made the promise to herself on January 2, 2022. “I knew that if I continued on this path, I would have lost everything I cared about. It was the scariest choice of my life, but it was also the best gift,” she said.

On Valentine’s Day 2023, Hale gained the attention and support of many public figures when she celebrated her first anniversary of sobriety. “Be patient, this is an alternative Valentine’s Day post,” she captioned the Feb. 14 post depicting a purple iced cake with sprinkles that said “1 Year” on it. “This is a post about self-love and the greatest thing I’ve ever done. On January 2, 2023, I celebrated one year of sobriety. Although this journey has been mostly private, I felt compelled tonight to let anyone who is struggling know that you are not alone and that you are loved.”

Celebrities including Demi Lovato, Lili Reinhart, Lily Collins, Troian Bellisario, Janel Parrish, Tyler Blackburn, Shay Mitchell and Sasha Pieterse have all commented in support of the “Cinderella Story” actress.