Michelle Heaton reveals stern advice she received from Katie Price after resorting to 'deceitful' tricks to hide 'out of control' alcoholism battle
The Liberty X star, 45, is now four years sober after she nearly died and was hospitalised in 2021 during her battle with drink and drugs.
At the height of her battle, the singer drank two bottles of wine and a bottle of vodka 'virtually every day since 2018', when an intervention led by Katie Price resulted in her checking herself into rehab.
Visibly glowing, Michelle appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday alongside hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley to discuss her battle.
She told how the last number of years saw her drinking escalate, which resulted in her losing jobs and family members cutting her out.
Michelle explained: 'I was in and out of hospital, but I really thought I had control of my drinking. At some points I really enjoyed my drinking, it was very social, it was lockdown and we had those garden parties outside, and I had problems beforehand but it definitely escalated things.
'There were lots of ups and downs, there were lots of periods where I was in hospital and I lost jobs, and members of my family and my friends just didn't want to talk to me anymore.'
At the height of her battle, Michelle was hiding bottles of alcohol from her husband and even placing it inside a sparkling water bottle.
She said: 'I was hiding my alcohol from my husband… I would be openly drinking in front of him, maybe a bottle of wine a night, and that's what he thought was my normal.
'I suppose at the time, everyone was drinking a lot more, but it was more… I would have a bottle of vodka [in addition] usually, and the thing is, I would always swear that I wouldn't do it again tomorrow, and I would promise myself that I wouldn't drink like that tomorrow and then by 3 o'clock in the afternoon, it was all out the window.
'I could not stop. I was dependent on alcohol.'
It was ex-glamour model Katie Price, 47, who has had her own battles with addiction, that spurred Michelle on it get help.
The singer recalled: 'There was just one particular day I remember, I was with Katie [Price] and she was great at the time.
'She had just had a stint of rehab herself, and I recognised that maybe if she could do it, maybe I could.
'And it took that recognition with somebody who had actually beaten the system, for me to realise that maybe I could do it too.'
Michelle was praised by fans last year as she shared a throwback picture to the height of her addiction on social media.
The snap showed the singer's face extremely bloated, demonstrating the grips of her dependency as she marked World Mental Health Day.
Michelle has been married to Irish businessman Hugh Hanley since 2010 and the pair share two children, daughter Faith and son AJ.
WHAT IS ALCOHOLISM?
Alcoholism is the most severe form of alcohol abuse and involves the inability to manage drinking habits.
It is organized into three categories: mild, moderate and severe. Each category has various symptoms and can cause harmful side effects.
If left untreated, any type of alcohol abuse can spiral out of control.
Individuals struggling with alcoholism often feel as though they cannot function normally without alcohol.
This can lead to a wide range of issues and impact professional goals, personal matters, relationships and overall health.
Sometimes the warning signs of alcohol abuse are very noticeable. Other times, they can take longer to surface.
When alcohol addiction is discovered in its early stages, the chance for a successful recovery increases significantly.
Common signs of alcoholism include:
Being unable to control alcohol consumption
Craving alcohol when you're not drinking
Putting alcohol above personal responsibilities
Feeling the need to keep drinking more
Spending a substantial amount of money on alcohol
Behaving differently after drinking
Short-term effects of alcohol abuse can be just as dangerous as long-term effects.
For instance, drinking can impact your reaction time, causing you to have slow reflexes and coordination.
That's why drinking and driving is extremely dangerous. Getting behind the wheel of a car can alter your perception of speed and distance, putting yourself and others at risk.
Several short-term effects of alcohol abuse may produce:
Slow reaction time
Poor reflexes
Reduce brain activity
Lowered inhibitions
Blurry vision
Difficulty breathing
Restlessness
Additionally, consuming too much alcohol can affect your long-term health. Some side effects may lay dormant for years before they surface.
Because of this, professional medical care is required for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Long-term health conditions caused by alcohol:
Brain defects
Liver disease
Diabetes complications
Heart problems
Increased risk of cancer
Vision damage
Bone loss
Treatment for Alcoholism
There are different forms of treatment available based on frequency and severity of alcohol abuse.
Recovering from alcohol addiction is a process that continues long after rehab.
It takes commitment to practice and apply the techniques you learn in rehab, counseling, support groups and other types of therapy.
Although every individual will have their own recovery plan that's tailored to their specific needs, treatment generally follows a structure.
Alcohol treatment is broken into three sections, consisting of:
Detoxification
The first stage in alcohol addiction recovery is detoxification. This phase should be completed with the help of medical professionals due to the potential for serious, uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Many times, individuals are given a medication to help alleviate the painful side effects of a withdrawal.
Rehabilitation
There are two types of rehabilitation that help treat alcoholism: inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab. Inpatient rehabs are intensive treatment programs that require you to check into a facility for a certain period of time, usually 30, 60 or 90 days. Outpatient rehab allows individuals to participate in a recovery program while continuing with their daily life. Talk with your doctor about treatment options to determine which form of recovery will best fit your needs.
Maintenance
The recovery process doesn't end with the completion of rehab. Long-term sobriety requires ongoing therapy and may entail support groups, counseling and other recovery resources. These will make sure you maintain sobriety and continue on a happy, healthy path for months and years to come.
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