{"id":182742,"date":"2025-07-24T22:02:26","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T22:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/24\/dancing-with-the-stars-cheryl-burke-marks-7-years-of-sobriety\/"},"modified":"2025-07-24T22:02:26","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T22:02:26","slug":"dancing-with-the-stars-cheryl-burke-marks-7-years-of-sobriety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/24\/dancing-with-the-stars-cheryl-burke-marks-7-years-of-sobriety\/","title":{"rendered":"Dancing With the Stars’ Cheryl Burke Marks 7 Years of Sobriety"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Cheryl Burke<\/strong><\/a> celebrated seven years of sobriety, reflecting on the misconceptions she had about being sober and the unexpected perks of her journey.<\/p>\n

\u201c7 years ago, I thought sobriety would mean losing everything,\u201d Burke, 41, wrote via Instagram<\/a> on Wednesday, July 23. \u201cThe fun. The freedom. The fearless version of me I thought only showed up after a drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dancing With the Stars<\/em><\/a> alum explained, \u201cBut what I didn\u2019t realize back then \u2026 Was that the escape I craved was really from myself. And the girl I ran from?\u00a0 She was the one waiting to save me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burke recalled turning to alcohol in times of happiness and sadness but never fully understanding its control over her.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Cheryl Burke: My Divorce Has \u2018100 Percent\u2019 Tested My Sobriety<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tUp for the challenge. Cheryl Burke is getting candid about her divorce from Matthew Lawrence, admitting it has \u201c100 percent\u201d tested her sobriety \u2014 but not for the reasons you might think. \u201cIt\u2019s not like I miss the act of drinking. I don\u2019t. I never liked the taste of it. It was just for the [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI used to believe alcohol gave me confidence, connection and control,\u201d she continued. \u201cTurns out, it stole those things quietly \u2014 day by day \u2014 until I couldn\u2019t recognize my own reflection.\u201d<\/p>\n

After giving up the vice, Burke said she\u2019s learned<\/a> that being sober has become somewhat of a superpower. \u201cToday, I no longer chase chaos dressed as fun,\u201d she shared. \u201cI no longer tolerate connections that require me to abandon myself. And I no longer mistake numbness for peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burke pointed out that what she thought she\u2019d \u201cmiss\u201d in sobriety was \u201cnever real to begin with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Cheryl<\/div>
Courtesy of Cheryl Burke\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The professional dancer recalled thinking that she\u2019d miss out on things like \u201cbeing the \u2018fun one\u2019\u201d and \u201cthe life of the party\u201d \u2014 or the \u201cfreedom\u201d she attributed to drinking, which she has since realized was \u201caddiction\u201d that was \u201ca cage dressed up like a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since cutting out alcohol, Burke said she\u2019s \u201cgained\u201d so much more than she realized<\/a> was possible with \u201cpresence, peace [and] self-respect\u201d at the top of the list.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a relationship with my Higher Power that reminds me I was never walking alone \u2014 not even in my darkest moments,\u201d Burke told her followers. She noted that although God \u201cdidn\u2019t take the pain away,\u201d he did hold her hand \u201cthrough it and gave me the strength to rise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
\"Cheryl<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Cheryl Burke Plans Her 40th Birthday \u2018All By My Lonesome Self\u2019<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tCheryl Burke is taking control of planning her own birthday party after her initial celebration plans fell through. \u201cI was supposed to go to Vegas for my 40th but plans have changed, so I\u2019m literally channeling [party planner] Mindy Weiss and I\u2019m going to put as much of this together as possible myself,\u201d Burke, who [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Burke used her sobriety milestone to empower others struggling with their own addiction issues, explaining, \u201cIf you\u2019re reading this and wondering if it\u2019s possible \u2014 I promise you, it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

She reminded her fans, \u201cThere\u2019s a whole world on the other side of rock bottom. And it\u2019s so much more beautiful than I ever imagined.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burke concluded her post \u2014 which included photos of what she thought she\u2019d miss by getting sober \u2014 by toasting herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s to 7 years sober. Here\u2019s to choosing clarity, wholeness and me,\u201d Burke wrote. \u201cOne day, one hour, one minute at a time. \ud83d\udcab #sober #soberbirthday #choosingme.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burke has been vocal about her sobriety journey<\/a> since she quit drinking in 2018. She confirmed in September 2020 that she was two years sober after events including her engagement to Matthew Lawrence<\/strong><\/a> and her father\u2019s death prompted her to recalibrate.<\/p>\n

Burke and Lawrence, 45, filed for divorce in February 2022<\/a> after three years of marriage. Eight months later, the dancer confirmed that she was still on track and was happy to be four years sober.<\/p>\n

\n
\n