Elizabeth Vargas, a celebrated television journalist known for her incisive reporting and unwavering presence during breaking news events, has publicly shared her arduous journey with alcohol addiction and anxiety. Her story, marked by professional success and personal struggles, offers insights into the complexities of addiction, the importance of mental health awareness, and the possibility of recovery.
Early Life and the Onset of Anxiety
Vargas spent her childhood moving frequently due to her father's military career, living in 14 homes, nine Army bases, and attending eight schools. This transient upbringing contributed to her struggles with anxiety, which she experienced daily from a young age, even suffering panic attacks. However, she learned to conceal her anxiety, a common coping mechanism for individuals dealing with mental health challenges. Studies indicate that nearly 63% of women grappling with alcohol issues also battle anxiety, highlighting the frequent comorbidity of these conditions.
The Lure of Alcohol and a Cycle of Addiction
Vargas's path to addiction began with a sense of relaxation that alcohol initially provided. She married Marc Cohn in 2002, who noticed her excessive drinking. Although she briefly managed to control her alcohol consumption after he voiced his concerns, the death of Peter Jennings in 2005 triggered a downward spiral.
The professional impact of Jennings' death was profound. "It was devastating. Devastating to everybody who worked there,” Vargas said. She also experienced a professional setback, stating, "I was demoted." By 2009, Vargas felt her marriage faltering, leading to resentment and exhaustion from balancing work, motherhood, and financial responsibilities. Wine became her solace. "I would stop on my way home work, you know, and have a glass of wine or two at a bar," Vargas said.
Like many, Vargas initially dismissed the idea that she had a drinking problem because she didn't drink constantly and had no family history of alcoholism. She fell into a pattern of secret drinking, followed by episodes of binge drinking during vacations. Her drinking created distance in her relationship with Cohn. “It made all the real problems we needed to discuss and work through frivolous in comparison,” Vargas said.
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During a 2012 vacation in Florida, her sister, Aimie Vargas, witnessed Elizabeth's intoxication firsthand. “It was in the middle of the afternoon and she was drunk,” Aimie Vargas said. When confronted, Elizabeth denied being an alcoholic, attributing her behavior to a difficult period.
Seeking Help and Relapse
Following the 2012 incident, Vargas secretly entered rehab, informing her ABC News superiors about a "medical issue." While in California, Vargas started with wine and then a bottle of tequila. Doctors emphasize that prolonged heavy drinking can alter brain structure and bodily cells. A few weeks after her initial rehab stint, Vargas relapsed. Despite never drinking on-air, there were instances where she consumed alcohol before interviews, which negatively impacted her performance. On one occasion, she consumed wine before taping. Afterwards, Vargas said she slipped into a nearby room and drank again. “There was one occasion on a Saturday,” she said.
On her way to the interview, Vargas said she had the car stop, she bought wine and drank some of the bottle before she started taping. She experienced a blackout and had no recollection of what transpired. “I don’t know where I went. I don’t know what I did. I don’t know what I drank,” Vargas said. Vargas later learned that a woman helped her get home safely. “I was able to tell her my address,” Vargas said. “She said she saw some men nearby that she didn’t like the look of who might have been, at that point, probably seeing me as a vulnerable person and she brought me back home.
Vargas confessed that she concealed the true reason for her condition due to shame. “I was too embarrassed to tell him that it was just alcohol because I thought it was so unfeminine, like, to be a drunk,” she said. It often takes multiple attempts for individuals with alcoholism to achieve lasting sobriety. "You sort of are standing by watching a train wreck. It was awful,” her sister Aimie Vargas said. “I walked into her apartment and she was completely out it,” Chris Vargas said.
Public Disclosure and Divorce
In 2014, Vargas was forced to publicly acknowledge her alcoholism after it was leaked to the press. She granted an interview to ABC News's George Stephanopoulos. In the same year, her husband, Marc Cohn, sought a divorce. She sat down for an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.
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Vargas reached out to her sister and an ABC colleague for assistance. “It was the first time that she called and said, ‘I need help,’ and I’ll never forget that,” Aimie Vargas said. Aimie said she dropped everything and flew to California to be with her sister. Elizabeth also called an ABC colleague who knew an actor/director in the area who was also a recovering alcoholic.
Road to Recovery
Following these events, Vargas committed to sobriety and sought help. “I honestly thought it was all over,” Aimie Vargas said. “I thought she was going to lose the boys, and I thought she was going to lose her job. Embarrassed, ashamed and deeply humbled, Elizabeth Vargas said she decided to get help and fight to stay sober. A counselor accompanied her back to New York. The counselor had her create a calendar detailing her instances of intoxication and the impact on those around her.
Vargas expressed gratitude for a second chance. “Thank God they gave me one more chance,” Vargas said. She emphasized the importance of apologizing and making amends to those she had hurt. “You can’t just say, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry I hurt you,’ and then, you know, leave it at that,” she said. “’I’m sorry I drank. I’m sorry I scared you. I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you. I’m sorry I fell asleep and missed your recital. I’m sorry." Cohn affirmed his ongoing support for Vargas's recovery. In a statement, Cohn told “20/20,” “Elizabeth has always had, and will always have my support, especially in regards to her recovery. Now I applaud her efforts to shed some light on the link between anxiety and alcoholism, which I imagine will help countless numbers of people and families.
Vargas now prioritizes meditation and removes herself from tempting situations to maintain her sobriety. She has learned that if she ever feels tempted to drink, she has to leave and she makes time for meditation.
A Voice for Mental Health Awareness
Elizabeth Vargas has become an advocate for mental health awareness, openly discussing her experiences with anxiety and addiction. She spoke to ABC’s Dan Harris for his “10% Happier” podcast about her struggle and her new book. Her willingness to share her story aims to reduce the stigma associated with these conditions and encourage others to seek help.
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Vargas's career continues to flourish. She currently hosts Elizabeth Vargas Reports on NewsNation. Elizabeth Vargas returns to national TV news this week with Elizabeth Vargas Reports on NewsNation. She also addresses the pressures faced by women in the media industry to maintain a youthful appearance.
Vargas believes it's important to end the stigma around addiction and seeking help. "When you're caught in that loop of anxiety or addiction, the world shrinks and you become very isolated and very alone," Vargas explains of how sobriety has changed her life, including as a mom to her sons. "And then, once you learn to deal with your anxiety, and you can put down whatever that substance is that you're using to self-medicate, the lens opens back up. That's the thing that's been most amazing to me - and how you can meet crises with aplomb."
She recalls the challenges of parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that her sobriety enabled her to support her children through a difficult time. "We never left New York City when it shut down and we didn't know how it was spreading. And all you could hear were ambulance sirens everywhere," she recalls of those scary early COVID days. "But I kept those kids going and healthy. I could never have done that if I were self-medicating my own worries."
Vargas emphasizes the importance of open conversations about mental health, particularly with children and teenagers. "I think mental health is one of the real under-covered crises in America," Vargas says, noting that while the pandemic has certainly made it worse, the plight of anxious and depressed adolescents predates COVID. She also reflects on her own childhood experiences with anxiety, noting the lack of awareness and support available at the time. "All I know is, when I was a child and I was a teenager, nobody was talking to me about my anxiety," she says.
She advises parents to reassure their children that they are not alone and that things will improve. "All I know is, when I was a kid, I thought I was the only one who felt this way, and that made me very ashamed of my own anxiety," she shares. "The most important thing a parent or an adult can tell a child or a teenager is: 'You're not alone. You're not alone, and it's going to be OK.' If somebody had told me those two things, it would have been incredible."
Vargas maintains open communication with her sons about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. "I'll talk to them all the time - I'm really, really anti-drug, like this fentanyl crisis has me terrified, and I will tell them all the time. But it's not going to work for me to go, 'Oh my God! Chicken Little! Anything you touch is going to kill you!'"
She has also spent years apologizing to her sons for her past struggles. As far as talking to her sons about her own addiction, Vargas says she's spent "years apologizing."
While Vargas has received forgiveness from her sons, she continues to grapple with self-forgiveness. "One of the great parts of recovery is that you learn to make living amends to people, too - that it goes beyond saying, 'I'm sorry I hurt you,'" Vargas says. "20/20?
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