Dax Shepard's Sobriety Is Everything to Kristen Bell: It 'Allows Me to Have Him in My Life'

Dax Shepard has been outspoken abouthis battle with addiction, and his hard-won sobriety isn’t something his wifeKristen Bell takes for granted.

“I know how much effort has to be put into staying sober. I don’t mean that to be like, I come home and see him shaking and looking at a whiskey ad or something, [but] there are different elements you have to deal with when you’re staying sober,” theFrozenactress, 38, tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s cover story, on stands Friday. “It’s a ton of mental control and evolution.”

Jeff Lipsky

Over their nearly 12 years together, Bell says she’s “always watched” her husband’s feet, which have consistently “been running towards good goals,” she says. “It’s just impressive for someone to have been that mindful about something.”

“I’m very happy he was born soI celebrate his birthday, but I’m extraordinarily [happy] that he has stayed sober because that’s what allows me to have him in my life as a husband and as a father,” explains Bell, who has two daughters, Lincoln, 5, and Delta, 4, with Shepard.

Last fall, Bell shared a touching note on Instagram incelebration of Shepard’s 14th year of sobriety, which quickly made headlines because of its sentiment.

In all seriousness, “it was crazy sweet,” says Shepard, “and I loved it.”

source: people.com