Christy Carlson Romano Says It Was 'Challenging to Be Sober During COVID,' But She 'Did Not Relapse'

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Christy Carlson Romanois taking things one day at a time.

While hosting thefirst-ever 90s Conthis weekend in Hartford, Connecticut, theEven Stevensstar got candid with PEOPLE about the challenges she’s faced during the ongoingcoronavirus pandemic.

Romano, 37, who has previously opened up about herstruggles with alcoholismandeating disorderson her YouTube vlog, admitted it was “challenging to be sober during COVID.”

“I think it sucks that COVID happened and that a lot of people turned to booze, but it makes perfect sense,” she told PEOPLE on Saturday. “I understand why a lot of people probably relapsed during COVID. I did not relapse during COVID and quarantine, but it was very challenging.”

“You can still feel very isolated even if you have a lot of people around you because it’s your responsibility as a parent to love your children and to keep them kids as long as possible. I really believe that. If everyone knows me from talking about being a child actor, I want my kids to have the best childhood that they can have … and I’m already triggered because I was growing up in fear,” Romano said.

“So it was challenging to be sober because you’re like, ‘Okay.’ Those impulses come up of, ‘How am I going to ‘release’ from all this confusion and fear?’ So traditionally, I probably would have gone out and partied and drank and danced the night away, but you’re stuck at home, there’s nothing to do,” she added.

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The former Disney Channel star instead found other methods to cope. Romano recalled a time at the beginning of quarantine when she just got into her car with no destination in mind.

Romano, who also voiced the title character in the early 2000s Disney animated seriesKim Possible, said she found that opening up in her vlogs about obstacles like these was “freeing and empowering.”

“I could finally be myself and talk to people about myself authentically, and obviously being authentic is what everybody wants to see these days,” she said. “It’s not only that they want to see it, but that theyneedit. And so I think it was really reassuring to come out and be like, ‘Hey guys, I’m struggling, I’ve struggled, this was in the past, but here I am now. We’re okay. We’re all okay.’ "

“The tone of the channel has grown into something that I do feel is really authentic, and I’m trying to keep that going,” Romano concluded.

source: people.com