Michelle Heaton has shared a before and after snap of herself as she celebrated being ‘100 days clean and sober’ in a candid Instagram post shared on Friday.
The Liberty X singer, 42, looked remarkably different in images taken 100 days apart, with the left snap taken on the morning she checked herself into rehab at the height of her crippling alcohol addition.
Speaking candidly about the extent of her addiction at the time, she told how she was in ‘utter madness and chaos’ after a night of drinking alone, before going on to encourage other sufferers that they too could change like she did.
Milestone: Michelle Heaton has shared a before and after snap of herself as she celebrated being ‘100 days clean and sober’ in a candid Instagram post shared on Friday
The star’s images highlighted the difference in effects no alcohol had to her skin, with the right hand side seeing her look more refreshed, radiant and healthier than the left hand snap in which she had a sullen expression.
Captioning her post, the mum-of-two shared the changes she has gone through before empowering others who are going through the same thing as she declared: ‘You are not alone, you are me, I was you!’
She penned: ‘100 days! Clean and sober! 100 days ago I took this photo, the morning I went into rehab. I remember waking up after yet another night of a party for one, alone by myself in utter madness and chaos.
‘100 days on, and I wake up (with still tired eyes), but tired from just a restless sleep, not a drugged up binge.’
Candid: Speaking candidly about the extent of her addiction at the time, she told how she was in ‘utter madness and chaos’ after a night of drinking alone, before going on to encourage other sufferers that they too could change like she did
She went on: ‘All I could see was darkness, now I can see light.
‘Where there was pain I feel joy. Where there was no hope I have comfort.
‘I hate to preach .. but here I go! I’m preaching to the still suffering addict. You are not alone, you are me, I was you!’
She concluded: ‘If you are in pain if you are controlled and have became powerless to this disease only YOU can label yourself!
Support: Her post garnered several positive and encouraging messages from fans and celebrity pals including Danielle Lloyd, Simon Webbe and Samia Longchambon
‘Admitting you need or want help is the first and hardest step. Let’s beat this! One day at a time. Not for tomorrow, just for today! Help is out there.’
Michelle rounded off her post by sharing details of the Alcoholics Anonymous help group.
Her post garnered several positive and encouraging messages from fans and celebrity pals including Danielle Lloyd, Simon Webbe and Samia Longchambon.
Michelle recently opened up about her battle with alcohol addiction three months after leaving a rehabilitation centre where she was given just days to live.
The singer revealed she was ‘powerless’ to drugs and alcohol during an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of Loose Women.
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Honest: Michelle recently opened up about her battle with alcohol addiction three months after leaving a rehabilitation centre where she was given just days to live
Detailing how severe her situation was, Michelle explained: ‘Three months ago I was on deaths door, I was given a couple of days [to live].’
Michelle admitted over the past three years she didn’t go a day without alcohol, and even when she was told last September she would die it still didn’t deter her.
Detailing her journey since becoming sober, Michelle said: ‘I’m approaching 100 days clean and sober. Just that intro makes me well up, but now with joy instead of fear. I’m delighted to be here with you and to be able to speak properly.’
Confessing that getting herself to rehab was the hardest part of her journey, Michelle said: ‘It’s the first step and its the hardest to admit you have a problem and that you’re powerless to drugs and alcohol.
She explained it wasn’t a ‘specific event’ that caused her admission into rehab, but she ended up ‘locked away by herself, lying and manipulating situations’.
Terrifying: Michelle admitted over the past three years she didn’t go a day without alcohol, and even when she was told last September she would die it still didn’t deter her (pictured September 2020)
Michelle revealed: ‘I became very very ill, it was a five year process. About three years it got a bit of a hold on me, I was happy in my addiction.’
‘Sometimes it’s difficult to say you have an addiction cos at times it feels fun, that’s the reality of it, it [alcohol] was my friend in need.
‘Any feeling, sad, happy, the sun’s shining, a party – any excuse. It got a hold of me really badly about a year and a half ago.’
‘My husband and friends tried an intervention to get me to rehab.’
‘Three months ago I was on deaths door, I was given a couple of days [to live]. I was so ill I had lost so much weight, my skin was translucent, my belly was swollen and hard. I was sick so I could drink more. I’d feel happy so I could drink more. It controlled everything I did.’
Opening up: The singer revealed she was ‘powerless’ to drugs and alcohol during an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of Loose Women
‘The last three years I’ve never had a day off alcohol, a drink or some sort, last September I was in hospital with a failed pancreas and liver disease.
‘It wasn’t looking good, even then I couldn’t stop. I was told if I continued I would die but I still didnt’ stop. Nothing mattered, my skin, I could see my veins, my skin was itchy, I was scrathed with scars.
‘My hair has gone, this isn’t mine, it’s been put in by my hairdresser. The great news is that the liver repairs, it’s an amazing organ. It will repair but not forget.
‘I’m under no illusions, one drink and I could be right back to where I was if not worse.’
Michelle admitted that her husband Hugh Hanley, who she shares children Faith, nine, and Aaron, seven, with, has been her ‘rock’.
Love: Michelle admitted that her husband Hugh Hanley, who she shares children Faith, nine, and Aaron, seven, with, has been her ‘rock’
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