Lena Dunham: How She Found Peace, Recovery, and a New Creative Voice
Best known as the creator and star of HBO’s Girls and more recently for writing and directing Too Much on Netflix, Lena has been candid about her struggles with prescription medication dependence, anxiety, and the pressures of public life. Her story of recovery is both deeply personal and universally relatable for anyone who’s wrestled with addiction or found themselves ready for change.
From her teenage years, Dunham battled anxiety and OCD, for which she was prescribed the benzodiazepine Klonopin. Though it initially offered relief, the medication later became a crutch, enabling her to cope with intense stress, from health issues to public scrutiny.
In April 2018, after undergoing a hysterectomy for severe endometriosis, she hit a turning point and checked into a 28-day rehab program in Los Angeles to detox from Klonopin. She later described that moment vividly:
“I was trembling like a little kid,” she recalled, recognizing the profound impact of seeking help.
Sobriety Is “The Right Thing for Me”
Lena is celebrating her sobriety, sharing that the decision to stay sober is “the best thing” for her.
“The way I feel about being sober is the same way I feel about being a vegetarian, which is like, it’s the right thing for me,” she said on an episode of the Not Skinny but Not Fat podcast, where she shared that she was nearly eight years sober.
“If you wanna eat meat around me, if you wanna get drunk, it’s all good. But for me and for the clarity that I need to live my life, for my health, for my particular way of moving through the world, it’s the right thing for me.”
Lena added that “as a person who deals with chronic pain, anxiety, for me, it’s better to just have all of the ability to tap out (of what) alcohol or drugs or whatever gives you.”
In 2019, she shared that she was living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a chronic disease that affects the joints and skin.
“I’ve been through a lot of hard things in my adulthood. Getting off Klonopin was probably the hardest. If I know that I’m a person who can go too far in a time of psychological stress, then why not eliminate that possibility?”
Life Post-Addiction: Peace, Purpose & Renewal
In a recent interview, Lena shared that the past few years have been the most peaceful of her life. After relocating to London, marrying musician Luis Felber in 2021, and directing her energy into new creative projects, she has found her stride in both personal contentment and professional renewed energy.
The Impact of Sobriety on Her Work
Sobriety has given Lena clarity and confidence to explore new creative avenues. Her upcoming Netflix series Too Much, co-created with her husband, delves into themes of emotional recovery and self-discovery. Meanwhile, films like Sharp Stick and Catherine Called Birdy reveal a thoughtful, mature voice, guided in part by her lived experience.
Her Story Matters
Lena Dunham’s openness about prescription drug dependency and her commitment to recovery help dismantle stigma around mental health and addiction. Her narrative resonates deeply:
Authenticity: She shows that recovery is complex, gradual, and deeply personal.
Empowerment: Her experience encourages others to seek help and pursue healing.
Reinvention: Sobriety unlocked a more intentional life, focused on creativity, connection, and growth.
Feel less alone in your journey. With accountability, coaching, and community, you will get the methods, tools, and support you need to change your relationship with alcohol. Start your 7-day free trial to the A Sober Girls Guide Membership.