‘Southern Charm’: Kathryn Dennis Reveals How Rehab Changed Her Life
It’s been a rocky road for Kathryn Dennis of Southern Charm fame. Sure, it’s not a surprise to see loads of drama on reality television, but Dennis and her ex, Thomas Ravenel, have more than delivered their fair share over the last year or two. With Ravenel having been removed from the show based on his assault allegations, and with a custody battle raging on between the two, it’s sometimes easy to forget that there are other people on the show at all.
But Kathryn Dennis seems to have been fighting the good fight against her own inner demons. After a stint in rehab, she’s been fighting harder than ever for full custody, and she’s ready to inspire.
Why did Kathryn Dennis go to rehab?
When the custody battle between Thomas Ravenel and Kathryn Dennis began in 2016, Dennis was ordered to get a drug test. Dennis failed her test, which found evidence of marijuana and allegedly other drugs in her system.
Additionally, Ravenel has claimed that Dennis traded, bought, and sold drugs with other cast members and the crew. Ravenel said Dennis utilizes “friends, cast members and show producers to support her prescription drug habit.”
Ravenel had also claimed that Dennis, “abuses prescription drugs, is engaged in the use of illegal drugs, and consumes alcohol in combination thereof regularly” and “has been intoxicated by the abuse of prescription drugs and/or use of illegal drugs while [their children are] in [her] sole care,” reports Page Six.
It would seem that Dennis went to rehab in an effort not only to get her personal life together, but also to become a more fit parent for her children, and to give her additional credence in court when lobbying for full custody.
What life after rehab is life
Since returning from rehab, Kathryn Dennis has been candid about the changes she’s experienced in her life. As a matter of fact, Dennis claims that living sober has given her a new perspective on the world around her.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Dennis said, “It’s been wild, but a great experience. That’s gonna be through fresh eyes, and I think that it’ll provide some new perspective, probably, on these people and on these situations that we have, and Charleston in general.”
Dennis went on to claim that rehab has been a metamorphosis for her. She went on to say that there’s an unfair stigma surrounding rehabilitation. “You know, there’s such a stigma around what I went through, and there shouldn’t be.,” Dennis told Entertainment Tonight. “What I went through wasn’t just addressing drug, alcohol, whatever. It was more beneficial in, like, life skills. Honestly, in a way I feel like everyone should go to some type of rehab, because, you just learn so much about people and life, and I think that’s really been key in, like, resolving my own issues.”
Gaining Patricia Altschul’s support
Dennis’ stalwart efforts to go clean didn’t just impress fans. Her changed behavior and lifestyle also left a lasting impression on none other than Patricia Altschul, seen by fans as the no-nonsense matriarch of the show.
Altschul said as much in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “She went to rehab, she got her life back in order, she’s passed every drug test. She has been like a different person, and I think it’s just a great redemption story. She inspired me, I was actually very impressed,” said Altschul.
Altschul added that she’s happy to see the rehab made a major impact. “I was kind of waiting to see if it took. And [my son, Whitney Sudler-Smith] was telling me, you know, all along about how she was a changed person, he likes her enormously. Shep [Rose] was very positive about her. And, and quite frankly, I watched what happened on the show. I saw that evolution really on the show, as well.”
Altschul went on to tell Entertainment Tonight that Thomas Ravenel isn’t making any friends, based on how he’s been treating Dennis, and his recent assault charges. “As you know, there’s various allegations that are pending,” said Altschul. “Just that alone, plus the way he has allowed Ashley to treat Kathryn, has more or less turned everybody, I would say, if not against him, away from him.”
