Kim Richards Credits Her Sobriety To 'The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills'

Kim Richards claimed that being in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills helped her in her battle to stay sober.

Despite having gone through many ups and downs on the show, Richards now claims that being on the series and having regular work gives her the motivation she needs to continue with her sobriety.

"I think it's important to love your job, to enjoy the people you work with-most of the time!" Richards told Dr. Sophy, the medical director of Los Angeles' Department of Children and Family Services, on the latest episode of his podcast, House Call with Dr. Sophy. "When I'm not working, I don't feel good. I don't feel...I'm not needed. I need that responsibility. It definitely makes a difference when you love what you're doing and you like the people you're working with. I like my producers, I like my crew, I like the girls...most of the time."

Richards admitted to boss Andy Cohen on the season 2 reunion that she was an alcoholic. Following production of the season she headed to rehab in Dec. 2011. Thirty days later, she returned to life as normal and has been reportedly sober ever since.

Richards said that after rehab she was eager to return to the show to keep herself busy. She explained how feeling that the show needed her helped her to stay sober.

"I came home in the first month or two [from treatment] and it was kind of quiet, because we weren't back in season yet...I was going stir-crazy. I did need that to get out, and go, and feel needed and important," she explained.

"My decision to go back to work and live my sobriety out in the public, and live it out on [RHOBH]...the feeling of getting to go to work, and feeling important, that they needed me, it felt so healthy and good to get back out there," Kim recalled. "It just felt wonderful. Very important."

Last month, it was reported that Richards may have been axed from the show because of her dwindling story line, but now, it appears as though that is not the case. Richards' sister, Kyle Richards, has always said she would never do the show without her sister, and Kim's chances to appear on the show are more since Kyle is confirmed to appear on season 5. 

However, it is possible that she may have been downgraded into the role of "friend of the housewives" as opposed to her current role as "official housewife." What that would be for Richards is less filming and a lower salary.