Captain Sandy Yawn is looking back on the years that nearly cost her life as she celebrates a major sobriety milestone.
The Below Deck star marked 37 years sober on August 29 and reflected on the period between ages 13 and 25, when she said drugs and alcohol repeatedly put her in dangerous situations.
Captain Sandy Yawn says her years of substance abuse left her close to death before she got sober
“Thirty-seven years ago today, I had my last drink and drug,” Yawn wrote on Instagram. “From the age of 13 to 25, I was in and out of jails, institutions, and close to death more times than I can count.”
Looking back on that period, Yawn said surviving it still feels remarkable. “When I look back, I know one thing for sure: it is a miracle that I am alive,” she continued.
The Below Deck star’s sobriety journey began on August 29, 1989. Yawn has previously said she struggled for years to remain sober before something changed in how she viewed herself.
In 2023, she recalled feeling hopeless and unworthy before reaching that turning point. “On August 29th 1989, something shifted inside of me,” Yawn said at the time. “For the 1st time in many yrs, I was able to look at the sky and feel worthy.”
Yawn has also discussed her history of substance abuse in her book Be the Calm or Be the Storm. She began using drugs and alcohol as a teenager while growing up between her parents’ homes. She said that period included arrests and life-threatening accidents.
“Someone’s keeping me alive for a reason,” Yawn previously told PEOPLE. “I should have been dead 10 times over with the lifestyle I led.”
Now, Captain Sandy Yawn says she approaches sobriety “one day at a time” and uses her experience to encourage others who may be struggling. “If you are struggling today, please know this: there is hope. Your life can change. Mine did. Never give up,” she wrote.
Her post drew support from fellow Bravo personalities. Aesha Scott said she was “so so so so so proud,” while Carl Radke called the milestone “inspiring and incredible.” Yawn also thanked God for giving her another chance at life.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or substance use, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a free, confidential, 24/7 helpline at 1-800-662-4357, as well as local treatment referral services.
