We all know
Demi Lovato as a singer and former Disney star, but she's also a passionate activist for mental health. The 25 year old songwriter has openly discussed her struggles with bipolar disorder, eating disorders and substance abuse - which included
sneaking cocaine on airplanes. At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, she gave an emotional speech to raise awareness, saying "I stand here today as proof that you can live a normal and empowered life with mental illness."
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Last March, Demi celebrated a major milestone: five years of sobriety. "It's been quite the journey," she wrote in an Instagram post. "So many times I wanted to relapse but sat on my hands and begged God to relieve the obsession. I'm so proud of myself but I couldn't have done it without my higher power (God), my family, friends, and everyone else who supported me...Thank you guys for sticking by my side and believing in me."
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However, Demi still hasn't conquered her food and body image issues. In her new YouTube documentary, Simply Complicated, she opens up about her struggle with binging and purging. While riding in the car with her manager, Phil, she reveals that after breaking up with longtime boyfriend Wilder Valderrama, she had a relapse:
"I relapsed with throwing up, binging, and purging a couple nights ago.
The less I have to think about food, the easier it is for me to go about having a normal life. I don't want to let anybody down so when I do have moments where I slip up, I feel very ashamed."
"What started the relapse [this time] was missing Wilmer. That's one of the reasons why we broke up — was because I've never been alone. When I was in a relationship with Wilmer, I went three years without purging."
The sparks never faded. But there are issues that I haven't conquered yet that I know I won't conquer if I'm relying on somebody else to take care of the loneliness. I just wasn't ready and there was so much in my life that I hadn't explored yet."
As everyone knows, the road to recovery is not easy. However, the
mental health warrior has made a lot of progress, and her fans are very supportive. One of them posted a side-by-side photo, juxtaposing the old Demi Lovato with what she looks like today. Over the past seven years, she's made a dramatic transformation:
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Can you believe how much healthier she looks? Congratulations to Demi for seeking help and changing her lifestyle. It might be obvious to us the old Demi looks unhealthy, but it's not obvious to people who suffer from body image issues. The caption reads "More confident," which is perfect. Once you're comfortable with your body, you're a lot happier.
Demi shared her fan's photo on her Instagram stories, adding the message "Recovery is possible."
Remember to seek help if you have
mental health issues. You can check out Simply Complicated below:
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