Lorraine Kelly is among those to have shared their support and praise for Michelle Heaton as she shared a harrowing image of herself to social media before she entered rehab. The Liberty X singer regularly shares about her battle with alcoholism and road to recovery from a three-year cocaine and booze binge to help others.
Michelle has previously said she was days from death and was only saved by an intervention from celebrity pals led by Katie Price. In June 2021 she revealed to The Sun that she had been drinking as much as bottle of vodka, two bottles of wine and snorting cocaine every day since 2018.
A couple of months later in a brave and emotional interview on Loose Women, Michelle admitted that she was on "death's door" and could have died from her addiction but said she didn't want to admit she had a problem because she was "happy" in the grips of her addiction.
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She has now posted a harrowing photo taken before she was first admitted to rehab as she celebrated two years sober. Taking to Instagram with the image taken outside The Priory, Michelle said she was "bewildered" and "very frightened" when she first entered the treatment facility.
She said: "Bewildered, confused, sad, sick and very frightened. That day I took my last drink. Therefore my sobriety date is tomorrow... It feels like a lifetime ago and in some ways like it was yesterday. I can still remember heading into there wanting to come out a controlled drinker. A normal drinker. I had no idea how bad I actually was, and that that day would be my last day of drinking."
Michelle added: "As long as I continue to do my meetings, step program and work on myself I don’t ever need to go back." And the post was quickly flooded with messages of support from Michelle's celebrity friends and followers.
Lorraine Kelly, who has backed Michelle over the years with the help of her self-titled ITV show, wrote: "So proud of you" followed by a red love heart emoji. This Morning regular Lisa Snowdon said: "An amazing achievement - huge love to you Michelle" followed by a red love heart emoji.
Her husband Hugh Hanley also wrote a message in the comments section. He said: "So proud of you and how hard you work to achieve all these wins, I know it’s not easy but you are an inspiration to myself and the kids."
At the end of last year, ahead of appearing on Dancing On Ice, Michelle marked her road to sobriety by sharing shocking photos of the time she ended up in hospital after collapsing from her alcohol addiction. The 43-year-old was hailed an inspiration as she took to Instagram on New Year's Eve to say: "Two years ago this was me .. I was admitted to hospital, not for the first or the last time."
She explained to her followers that she had left the hospital and went straight to an off-licence to buy vodka. "I had collapsed in active addiction. I left the hospital the next day, I walked over to the off-licence and bought more vodka," she said. "Seems insane? It is! But it was the only way I knew how to live. So I thought."
Michelle, who shot to fame on the talent show Popstars in 2001 which formed the band Liberty X, said: "I swore to my peers, family and doctors I was on the mend. I meant it. But my mind of an addict had a different plan." The mother-of-two urged: "New year is a time we all make goals, and resolutions. Why don’t you make your goal to reach out to someone like me? I turned it down so many times, so don’t be discouraged if they say no. The day will come when they’ve just had enough.
"If you or anyone you know is struggling help is out there. Visit www.aa.org there is a solution...one day at a time your life can be filled with hope faith & courage #addiction #recovery #hope #solution."
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