David Bromstad Opens Up About Dark Times in Healing HGTV Special

HGTV star David Bromstad is sharing his most personal story yet in an upcoming special that documents not just his home renovation journey, but his path to healing from childhood trauma, substance abuse, and mental health struggles. The beloved “My Lottery Dream Home” host reveals intimate details about overcoming dark periods in his life through the therapeutic process of creating his dream home in Central Florida.

The hour-long special “My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending,” premiering December 19, follows the 52-year-old designer through a four-year renovation project that became much more than a simple home makeover. What started as plans to update a kitchen and add an extension transformed into a complete reconstruction after devastating flood damage, ultimately serving as a catalyst for personal growth.

Bromstad’s willingness to share his struggles is a significant departure from the bright, cheerful persona viewers have come to know over his 18 seasons on HGTV. The designer acknowledges that maintaining his perpetually positive public image became unsustainable and ultimately destructive to his well-being and mental health.

According to TV Insider, the renovation project faced numerous setbacks, including storm damage that caused extensive flooding and mold growth, requiring demolition of the house to its studs. The financial, physical, and emotional strain became overwhelming. Bromstad was forced to pause the project for an entire year to focus on personal healing.

During this difficult period, Bromstad embarked on a transformative trip to Norway. He traveled to explore his ancestral homeland, which inspired him to make more authentic personal choices. The journey marked a turning point in both his renovation project and his approach to mental health and recovery.

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Creative Expression as Lifeline During Recovery

Bromstad credits his artistic abilities and the renovation project with literally saving his life during his darkest moments. “As an artist and a creator having the outlet of designing, my house was the one thing that was keeping me going,” he told TV Insider. “This isn’t the first time art has saved my life. Through substance abuse and not being kind to myself, the one thing that’s always remained secure and steady has been my creative talent.”

The designer emphasizes that despite experiencing severe financial, emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical challenges, he never considered abandoning the property. The house became more than a renovation project. It evolved into a therapeutic space where he could work through personal issues while creating something meaningful.

His approach to discussing mental health challenges shows he understands the difference between his public image and private challenges. “It was important for me to open up about the reality of my life,” Bromstad shared with TV Insider. “I have a very blessed and incredible life, and I do know this. But it doesn’t negate the fact that I’ve had really hard times in my existence.”

The special addresses how Bromstad’s consistently upbeat television personality, while genuine, had become limiting. “I only allowed people to see the bright and shiny parts of me because that was all I was willing to accept from myself,” he explained. This authentic version of himself helped him secure his HGTV career. However, it eventually became destructive because maintaining a constant positive outlook proved unsustainable.

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Bromstad has previously discussed experiencing childhood trauma, including severe bullying at school. He has said that he was “tormented” daily and subjected to cruel treatment from both peers and school administrators. These early experiences contributed to his development of coping mechanisms that served him professionally but hindered his personal growth.

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HGTV Support and Professional Growth

Bromstad expresses deep gratitude to HGTV for their support throughout his personal journey and career. “HGTV has always been my biggest champion,” he told TV Insider. “They celebrated me being gay when I didn’t even celebrate it myself. I got onto television when gay was still new to the media. There wasn’t a lot of representation that was real.”

The network’s decision to air his personal special suggests they support honest stories alongside their usual home shows. “And for them to wrap their arms around me during this very real time of my life has been such a blessing,” Bromstad noted. “HGTV always continues to surprise me with the encouragement of authenticity, even when it isn’t pretty.”

His professional perspective has evolved significantly through this experience. The traditional advice against emotional investment in real estate projects no longer resonates with him. “They always say not to emotionally invest in your home or emotionally buy your house. And I’ve thrown that concept out the window because I think it’s garbage,” he explained.

This shift affects how he approaches client relationships on “My Lottery Dream Home.” “If there’s one thing you should emotionally invest in it’s your home. That’s where you live. That’s where you breathe. That’s where you sleep, that’s where you create great memories,” he emphasized.

The completed home now serves its intended purpose as a gathering place for loved ones. “I didn’t build this just for myself, I built this to share it with my friends and family,” Bromstad shared, describing the reveal day as “probably the most incredible day that I’ve had in my adult life.”