Survivor Star Carolyn Wiger Opens Up About Sobriety and Abuse Recovery

Carolyn Wiger, the 37-year-old Minnesota native and fan-favorite contestant from *Survivor* season 44, is gearing up for her next challenge as she joins the cast of Peacock‘s *The Traitors* season three. Known for her quirky personality and resilience, Carolyn has overcome significant personal struggles, including addiction and domestic violence, which have shaped her journey both on and off the screen.

Carolyn first gained attention on *Survivor* season 44, where she made it to the final three thanks to her loyalty and strategic gameplay. However, her path to reality TV stardom was far from easy. In a 2023 interview, Carolyn revealed that she battled addiction to drugs and alcohol, describing it as “mental and emotional torture.” She moved five times in two years before realizing she couldn’t outrun her problems. “I finally realized that I cannot run from my problems, because everywhere we go, there we are,” she said.

Her struggles included multiple hospitalizations, DUIs, and what she calls “rock bottoms.” Carolyn, however, rejects the idea of hitting a single low point. “I don’t believe in ‘rock bottom,’ because if I would have waited for rock bottom, then I would be dead,” she shared. At 22, she got sober and committed to healing. “I wanted to love myself,” she told CanvasRebel. “I wanted to be proud of myself.”

Carolyn’s journey also included escaping an abusive relationship. In July 2024, she celebrated one year of leaving that relationship, sharing on social media, “Exactly one year ago I left the hell that I lived in when I left my abusive relationship.” She marked National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October 2024 with an emotional post, juxtaposing her *Survivor* celebrations with images of broken furniture and walls from her past. “I was ashamed. I was embarrassed,” she wrote. “I didn’t want to be that person ‘allowing’ this type of abuse.”

After achieving sobriety, Carolyn became a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and created the “Faces of Recovery” project for the Minnesota Recovery Connection. The initiative aimed to showcase individuals thriving in recovery and combat the stigma surrounding addiction. “If I had to be judged forever by the things I did while actively addicted, I would have never recovered,” she wrote. Following her *Survivor* debut, Carolyn left her job to work independently, focusing on inspiring others struggling with addiction and self-acceptance.

In May 2024, Carolyn celebrated 15 years of sobriety, sharing her milestone on social media. “Feeling my feelings since May 20, 2009! 15 years sober today!!!” she wrote. Fans can now watch Carolyn bring her unique energy to *The Traitors* season three, which premiered on January 9, 2025, on Peacock.