Michelle Heaton has been open and honest about her debilitating battle with alcoholism, and has been sober for more than three years after being told by doctors she was close to death
Michelle Heaton shares video to mark Alcohol Awareness Week
Michelle Heaton has shared a devastating video showing her in the depths of her alcoholism.
The former Liberty X singer, 44, has been sober for more than three years after being told by doctors in 2020 that she was “close to death” and her liver was failing. Marking Alcohol Awareness Week on social media, Michelle bravely uploaded a clip from three years ago that showed her opening her birthday presents alone.
She told her followers on Instagram that she wanted to share a “look back at the last few years of my mental torture and how I was broken”, and came across the video she had taken on her 41st birthday. “I share this video with a heavy heart,” she began in the caption “I am now 3 years and 2 months sober. I don’t recognise this person. This was my 41st birthday I’m coming up to my 45th in 2 weeks time… I would not be here if I didn’t surrender or accept I was an alcoholic!”
In the video, Michelle can be seen looking worse for wear as she slowly realises that she has passed out after a drinking session on her birthday. The singer, who is married to Irish businessman Hugh Hanley, then becomes upset as she discovers not only is her husband not with her, but her daughter Faith, 12, and son AJ, 10, have left her alone after she fell asleep on the floor at 4pm in the afternoon.
“The kids have gone and I’m sat here by myself opening up my own presents. Oh my god I feel awful. I’m opening up my cards and presents with no one. I actually think I might cry. I fell asleep in my clothes and my make-up at half four, I think I might be sick. I think I might be sick, I can’t do today. I might go back to bed. What am I going to do, f*** what will I do? I can’t believe I’m opening up my own cards and presents on the floor,” she cried in the clip.
In the caption of her post, Michelle explained that alcoholism “took over my entire life”, and said the impact on her loved ones was “devastating”. She continued: “Complete and utter lack of power or choice… Maybe things couldn’t have been different for me, but if I can share and someone relates to anything on this video for YOU or your loved ones PLEASE… don’t ignore the signs, the ominous warnings and the consequences.”
“Help is out there,” Michelle pleaded. “I do believe the narrative has changed and by continuing to talk and share our experiences maybe someone like me won’t have a video like this.” The singer was hospitalised in 2021 after doctors warned her she was gravely ill due to liver failure, and the stark warning forced her to enter rehab.
Last year, she admitted giving up alcohol was the “best decision” she has ever made, and has since turned her life around. “The bottom line is, not drinking alcohol is way better than drinking alcohol,” she told Fabulous magazine.
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