Michelle Heaton opens up about the ‘mental torture’ of alcoholism

By Hannah Mcdonald

10:39 04 Jul 2024, updated 12:42 04 Jul 2024

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Michelle Heaton has opened up about the ‘mental torture’ of alcoholism as she shared a video from before her sobriety. 

The Liberty X singer, 44, has been sober for three years and two months after she nearly died and was hospitalised in 2021 during her battle with drink and drugs. 

Taking to Instagram on Thursday amid alcohol awareness week, Michelle said it was with a ‘heavy heart’ that she needed to share a video from her 41st birthday – when she was in the throws of her addiction.

In the clip, Michelle is seen speaking to the camera about being left to open her birthday presents alone on the floor after falling asleep at 4pm, still in her clothes and with her make-up on.

‘The kids have gone and I’m sat here by myself opening up my own presents,’ mother-of-two Michelle said in the clip. ‘Oh my god I feel awful.’

Michelle has been married to Irish businessman Hugh Hanley since 2010 and the pair share two children, daughter Faith, 12, and son AJ, 10.

In the video, where Michelle is seen surrounding by presents and a bottle of wine, she says: ‘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. 

Along with the video, Michelle shared a picture of herself cuddled into husband Hugh on the day she finally asked for help with her addiction. 

‘I share this video with a heavy heart,’ Michelle captioned the post. ‘This week is alcohol awareness week.

‘So a took a look back at the last few years of my mental torture and how I was broken. I came across this video.

‘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!’

Michelle added: ‘The reality of how alcoholism took over my entire life and those around me were devastating. Complete and utter lack of power or choice. The first picture being when I realised all I had to do was admit I needed help!

‘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. 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.’

Michelle has shared her fitness transformation with fans on social media, which she credits to cutting out the booze. 

In 2012, Michelle discovered she carried the BRCA-2 gene, putting her at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

She bravely underwent a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction as well as a total hysterectomy but needed a second boob job later on when one of her implants ruptured.

This put her into an early menopause, which Michelle claimed had an impact on her marriage as she admitted in 2018 that she has not been the ‘best wife’.

She also claimed ‘it would have been easier to die’ than go through the ordeal she suffered in the height of her drug and alcohol addiction. 

Michelle then checked into rehab in April 2021 after being warned that she would die if she didn’t change her ways.