DANCING on Ice star Michelle Heaton has bravely opened up about the ‘chaos’ of being an addict and admits: ‘I was a car crash.’
Michelle, 43, who is currently starring in Dancing On Ice, opened up about her alcohol addiction last year in a bid to help others.
Michelle Heaton has bravely opened up about the chaos of being an addict
The star, who celebrated being one year sober last April, hopes to help people by telling her story
The singer, who celebrated one year sober last April, fought back tears as she talked about her darkest times.
The mum-of-two spoke honestly about ‘enjoying being an addict’ and how she ‘enjoyed the chaos’ and ‘enjoyed the manipulation.’
Speaking to Renew Podcast, Michelle ‘Believe in People’ episode, she explained: “It was mental, ” as she worked out the reason her old friends no longer wanted to see her.
Speaking about the ‘new version’ of herself she had become as an addict, Michelle said: “I was a car crash.”
“I’m a good person, I’m kind and loving and love to make people feel good about themselves, but addiction stopped all that.
“It stopped me being who I am, but I couldn’t see it. There was this new version of me.
Because I was this person, and people didn’t want to hang around with me, and I didn’t know why, obviously it was because I was a car crash, I would manipulate situations so I could get friends to hang out with me.”
She added: “I didn’t have an alcohol or drug problem in the celebrity era. My issues came later on in life.”
Michelle opened up to the podcast series exploring addiction, recovery and stigma.
She wrote on Instagram: “I still sometimes hear what I say and not recognise the person I’m talking about .I hope me being open helps someone to recognise they don’t need to be that person either”
She talked about her recovery and the tough decisions she had to make to live a healthy and sober life.
Michelle, who is preparing to dazzle fans with her Week 3 skate on Sunday, also spoke about understanding the importance of peer support and asking for help.
The star, who was at a rooftop bar with pals recently, said:
“The more I’m in recovery, the more I recognise the point in which I need to leave a situation.
“I am around a lot of people who drink, and I have to set boundaries for that. I didn’t attempt to put myself through that pain at the beginning, and that’s really important. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. If you are still nervous, or anxious, or still have the obsession of drink and drugs, don’t go to a party where you know there is going to be loads. It has got to be as black and white as that.
With time the obsession is lifted using the 12 step program.
So I was getting tired, irritable and discontent. So when that sets in, I know it’s time for me to leave.”
Michelle is starring in Dancing on Ice and can’t wait for her week 3 performance on Sunday
Listen to Michelle’s full episode on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3ndwxvmm and Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mryuas35
