If you are seeking help about your substance use, or know someone who is, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
After his emotional beachside conversation with Austen Kroll on Southern Charm Season 10, Episode 13, Craig Conover is getting vulnerable about his struggles with addiction.
He reflected on the emotional chat during the subsequent episode of the Southern Charm After Show.
"You don't realize that I'm actually trying to change my life," Craig said about what he was thinking when he sat down with Austen in the Bahamas. "He thought I was just doing it to look better. And once I realized that, I opened up to him because I finally understood it, and I was like, 'No, I'm an alcoholic.'"
He clarified, "I still don't even like saying that word because I don't understand it that much, but I'm like, 'I drank too much.'"
Craig went on to note that he doesn't blame Austen for being in the dark about his past struggles. As he put it, "To his credit, I had really never talked about it with anyone other than my parents and Paige [DeSorbo]. But, it still feels weird because it feels weak to me. I know everyone's like, 'It's not weak,' but it still feels... It's weird.
Why Craig Conover decided to change his drinking habits
Craig continued to elaborate on his issues with alcohol on the Southern Charm After Show.
"When I drank, I drank too much, and I couldn't control that. And for the sake of my relationship and my life and my business, I made a decision to try to get better and try to change my relationship with alcohol," the Sewing Down South founder added. "And it allowed me — instead of us yelling at each other or calling each other names that we didn't realize to be like, 'Oh, I didn't realize that I've never told you my story.' And maybe that's on me, but also it's a deeply personal [one]."
What Craig Conover's told Austen Kroll about his issues with alcohol in the Bahamas
After the final group dinner of the Bahamas trip on Season 10, Episode 13, Craig and Austen stepped aside from the rest of the Charm-ers to discuss the demise of their friendship.
Austen said he felt like Craig had completely changed his lifestyle to be in line with his pillow brand, while Craig had a different reason for the overhaul.
"I just want you to loosen the reins a little bit," Austen said.
"Yeah, but I can't because I don't have any leash on myself," Craig responded. "That's any addict. I was like, f--k, me trying not to be an alcoholic is now affecting my friendship with Austen. And that's where I was coming from, you know? Like, I have tears in my eyes because it's real. I was in the trenches by myself trying to better my life and then you were like, 'You're never with my anymore.' And I'm like, 'Dude, I can't. I gotta stay on my couch, I gotta stay on my couch. Because if I leave my couch, I'm gonna drink a bottle of Jäger and do dumb s--t.'"
"The word addict, you've never used with me," Austen said.
"I know. I've never said it out loud. ..." Craig said. "I'm really lucky, dude. I'm lucky I got out of it."
Are Craig Conover and Austen Kroll friends today?
After a difficult season, Austen and Craig are working on their friendship.
"We're definitely on the up and up instead of on the down. Like, we try to text, call — he texted me after the Paige thing," Craig said on the Southern Charm After Show, referring to his breakup from Paige at the end of 2024. "The issue was I couldn't tell him about the Paige thing, which he was one of the only people I wanted to call, but I just don't trust him yet enough to do that. But, I hope to one day build that trust back..."
He continued, "We're working on our new normal. I think we're in a much better place, but it's different. We did used to have a relationship around partying, and now we're building [something else]."
Find out why Craig was upset with JT Thomas after watching the Bahamas trip.
