HGTV star David Bromstad opened up about “using substances” and starting to “spiral” when his dream home renovation turned into a nightmare.
“I got into some unhealthy behaviors and it’s really easy to go there when you’re under distress,” Bromstad, 52, revealed in a preview of his new HGTV special, which was published by People on Thursday, December 18. “Using substances has been … it’s a real easy escape to take yourself out of a stressful situation. I knew I was in trouble.”
Bromstad had no idea about the trials and tribulations that awaited him when he embarked on filming My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending, where cameras followed him remodeling his “forever home.” More than 250 days into the remodeling process, a storm caused severe structural damage that required Bromstad to demolish his new residence down to the studs and start over.
The HGTV host admitted in this preview clip that he felt “emotionally attached” to the property after putting so much time and effort into the renovation. It ultimately took four years for him to finally finish work on his Florida home.
“Whatever happens to the house feels like it’s happening to you deep within,” he explained.
Bromstad confessed that his “mind was going crazy” over the thought of starting from scratch, so he leaned on “substances” to cope.
Speaking to TV Insider, Bromstad addressed why it was “important” for him to touch on substance use and childhood trauma in My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending.
“It was important for me to open up about the reality of my life,” he said. “I have a very blessed and incredible life, and I do know this. 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.”
Bromstad pointed out that, while he is naturally a “bright and shiny person,” he endures struggles and trauma just like anyone else.
David Bromstad on ‘My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending’ Courtesy HGTV/YouTube
“That [happy] version of myself came from past childhood traumas, and that version of myself saved me back then,” he noted. “It got me the job on HGTV, it has propelled so many unique and beautiful versions of myself, until it started to destroy me. Because it’s unsustainable for someone to be that authentically happy.”
Bromstad went on, “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 credited HGTV with letting him delve into his past traumas on My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending, rather than pretend everything was going well.
“HGTV has always been my biggest champion. They celebrated me being gay when I didn’t even celebrate it myself,” he recalled. “I got onto television when gay was still new to the media. There wasn’t a lot of representation that was real. It was because of HGTV that I was able to accept that version of myself that there was nothing to be ashamed of.”
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He continued, “For them to wrap their arms around me during this very real time of my life has been such a blessing. HGTV always continues to surprise me with the encouragement of authenticity, even when it isn’t pretty.”
Bromstad previously hinted at coming out of a difficult period in 2023 while on a trip to Norway. He wrote via Instagram about how climbing “2000 steps of pure terrifying exhilaration” on Norwegian mountain range Reinebringen was symbolic of that time in his life.
“While climbing up I tried not to look down at where I was as it gave me that feeling of dread but after I got up and started to come back down, that dread turned into confidence,” he shared. “I could honestly stand on any step and put my arms out and close my eyes and feel present in that moment. The dread turned into accomplishment which in turned made my cry.”
Bromstad concluded, “I sat and let the tears rolled down my face and felt that beautiful emotion. Letting go of passed mistakes and regrets. Letting theses moments pass thru me has given me a intense clarity Building foundations! Feels good to be present, sober and living the life I was intended to live.”
My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending premieres on HGTV Friday, December 19, at 9 p.m. ET.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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