Cameron Mathison’s world turned upside down earlier this year when his home was destroyed in the California wildfires.
The General Hospital star, 55, revealed that the trauma of losing everything nearly derailed two decades of sobriety. For someone who had been clean for over 20 years, the emotional toll of this tragedy hit deeper than expected.
Talking to PEOPLE, Cameron admitted the cravings came back hard. “The pull and the thoughts are definitely stronger these last four months, more than the last 20 years,” he said. He described how, in his lowest moments, he wanted to reach for something, anything, to numb the pain. But instead of giving in, he tried to lean into his inner work: mindfulness, meditation, and a whole lot of spiritual grounding.
That doesn’t mean it was easy. “I haven’t been great with it, to be honest,” he confessed. “But I know that’s what I need to do more of.” His struggles didn’t just come from the physical loss but from the emotional wreckage of watching everything he’d built literally go up in flames. It was more than a house, it was the place he raised his kids, and where they hoped to raise theirs.
Mathison has always been vocal about why he quit drinking. Back in 2021, he marked 15 years sober by writing on Instagram that alcohol held him back from being the best version of himself. “People think giving up alcohol restricts you from ‘living,’ but for me, it did the opposite. It gave me freedom.”
But losing his home tested all of that progress. In an interview with Access Hollywood, he said, “Every single little thing I’ve ever owned, every piece of evidence of my life and my kids’ lives, was lost in that house.” He’s trying to focus on what he’s learned and what he’s still grateful for, but the grief is real. “It’s been oddly one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with.”
Luckily, Cameron hasn’t had to go through it alone. He gave a heartfelt shoutout to his General Hospital co-stars, calling them “phenomenal” for their constant support. “It’s unbelievable the love and kindness that’s been given to me. It’s made all the difference.”
Cameron Mathison’s journey is a reminder that healing isn’t a straight line. Even after 20 years sober, life can throw you a curveball that shakes everything. But he’s still standing, still showing up, and still choosing resilience.
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