HGTV’s David Bromstad has revealed he checked himself into rehab as he grappled with substance abuse during his extensive house renovation.
The television personality and designer, 52, sought professional help when his life began to derail after a storm destroyed his dream home in Florida halfway through the project.
Bromstad opened up about how he was able to overcome his ‘unhealthy behaviors’ in My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending, which aired on December 19.
Recalling his lowest point, he said: ‘My mind is going crazy. The sleep is becoming less and less and less, ’cause the stress is rising, rising, rising.
‘I was starting to spiral. I got into some unhealthy behaviors. It’s really easy to go there when you’re under distress.
‘You know, using substances… it’s a real easy escape to take yourself out of a stressful situation. I knew I was in trouble.’
Bromstad’s home was ruined by extreme water damage, flooding and excessive mold which meant that he had to start building his ‘childhood fantasy’ home from scratch.
After noting how the setback had impacted his mental health, Bromstad said he knew it was time to seek professional help.
HGTV’s David Bromstad shared that he checked himself into treatment for substance abuse
The host said he ‘got into some unhealthy behaviors’ after he faced a huge set back while renovating his dream home in Florida
‘I think with the house, with where I’m at emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, everything has stopped,’ he said. ‘I was literally screaming out for help.’
He continued: ‘I need to put my house on hold, and I need to check myself into some sort of program.
‘I need to talk. I need to climb out of this hole. I need to understand why I climbed into it in the first place.’
Bromstad explained that he had hoped that his dream home would help heal the trauma he endured in his younger years.
As a child, he dealt with bullying and depression on top of growing up as a closeted queer man.
‘I was exactly this amount of gay, this amount of perfect, but that was not celebrated,’ he said. ‘That was looked [at] in a different way back then.
‘I was super depressed. I was super bullied. And so, for me to idealize my childhood was a complete defense mechanism that was beautiful; it saved me.’
In August 2023, Bromstad revealed he was sober in an Instagram post in which he celebrated his 50th birthday.
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As a child, Bromstad revealed he endured bullying and depression, on top of navigating life as an LGBT+ person
His show My Lottery Dream Home has been airing on HGTV for a decade
‘Feels good to be present, sober and living the life I was intended to live,’ he captioned the upload.
Bromstad’s candor prompted viewers to reach out and share their support.
One wrote: ‘Major respect. Asking for help is very brave. Your story resonates with me. I’m happy you are here.’
‘You are loved David!’ said another. ‘Please take care of yourself and your health and wellbeing! We are all rooting for you! You are a bright shining light in this world and radiate nothing but love!’
A third continued: ‘Watching that episode last night, seeing what happened, how it broke your heart, broke my heart for you. That was so devastating.
‘I’m glad that you got the help you needed, and took time off, found yourself and started to heal. Stay strong. You’re lovely and precious to so many people. Remember to take care of yourself.’
‘You’re a beautiful, wonderful gift to this crazy world David!’ added a fourth. ‘Love you just the way you are!’
Speaking to TVInsider, Bromstad said it was important for him to be frank about his past struggles in the episode.
‘I have a very blessed and incredible life, and I do know this,’ he said. ‘But it doesn’t negate the fact that I’ve had really hard times in my existence.
‘I only allowed people to see the bright and shiny parts of me because that was all I was willing to accept from myself.
‘So, to tell my honest and unapologetically unique story has been something I’ve been looking forward to, but I didn’t want to rush it, and I wanted it to be at the right time.
‘You can’t have the bright and shining times without the darkness. I don’t push away the darkness.
‘I bring it in because I know the darkness only makes my bright and shiny parts shine that much bigger.’
Bromstad has fronted My Lottery Dream Home since it premiered on the channel in 2015. It is currently airing its 19th season.
