Zac Efron hasn’t been one to talk about his personal life since he got out of rehab for his cocaine addiction. But now he’s finally opening up a bit about how his sobriety.
He told Elle that what really woke him up was realizing he wasn’t who he used to be.
“I wasn’t really being myself. A lot of my hobbies had gone out the window. I couldn’t skateboard or surf for fear of being followed. Crossing the line of fear is what leads to greatness.”
Since getting sober, Zac‘s life has changed completely.
“What I found is structure. That led me to a balance of opposites: You get out of life what you put in. There was a moment when my morning routine was, like, Get up and Google yourself. But that stopped, dramatically and instantly, probably three years ago. I realized that viewing yourself through other people’s pictures is not living your own life.”
Zac was obviously hesitant at first to share his story — he didn’t want to become known for being the “sober guy.” He told The Times,
“There’s a theory that actors should live like monks. You stay private, you make a great movie, then that’s all people see and you’re not a product of your struggle. But if you’re comfortable sharing your story, celebrate it. Most days I wake up excited now.”
To maintain his sobriety, he joined Alcoholics Anonymous and has started seeing a therapist.
“I think it’s changed my life. I’m much more comfortable in my own skin. Things are so much easier now.”
That said, addiction is an illness that never truly goes away, and Zac is highly aware of that.
“It’s a never-ending struggle.”
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