Jackie ‘O’ Henderson breaks down as she reveals she wasn’t always sure she would wake up at the height of her pill addiction: ‘Someone was watching out for me!’

Jackie 'O' Henderson breaks down as she reveals she wasn't always sure she would wake up at the height of her pill addiction: 'Someone was watching out for me!'

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for resilience and courage, I cannot help but be moved by Jackie ‘O’ Henderson‘s heart-wrenching story. Her journey from the pinnacle of success to the depths of addiction and back again serves as a stark reminder that no one is immune to life’s struggles.


On Monday evening, Jackie ‘O’ Henderson became visibly emotional as she shared her challenging struggle against addiction.

The radio titan sat down with A Current Affair and revealed her life got so bleak at one point following the collapse of her 18-year marriage to photographer Lee Henderson, it’s a miracle she survived. 

She admitted to handling the situation poorly and acknowledged that her approach was certainly not a healthy one, as she shared with host Allison Langdon.

She mused that the solution lay in opting for a beverage, and continued, “It was a dismal life devoid of recollection, desire for contemplation, sensation, or action.

Jackie admitted a startling revelation, sharing that during her toughest times, she took as many as 24 Panadeine Forte tablets and 12 Stilnox sleeping pills each day.

‘I don’t know how I woke up either… someone was watching out for me,’ the mother-of-one admitted.

Jackie 'O' Henderson breaks down as she reveals she wasn't always sure she would wake up at the height of her pill addiction: 'Someone was watching out for me!'

Jackie 'O' Henderson breaks down as she reveals she wasn't always sure she would wake up at the height of her pill addiction: 'Someone was watching out for me!'
Jackie 'O' Henderson breaks down as she reveals she wasn't always sure she would wake up at the height of her pill addiction: 'Someone was watching out for me!'

Instead of waking up short of breath, the seasoned entertainer often found herself abruptly awakening with a feeling that she had temporarily stopped breathing in her sleep, which she described as absolutely terrifying.

When asked if she cared whether she survived, Jackie answered with stark honesty.

‘Not really. I don’t think so,’ she replied.

‘It just goes to show how looks can be deceiving, right?’ she added. 

Despite Jackie having previously discussed her rehabilitation experience, she recently revealed fresh insights into the extent to which she concealed the ordeal from others.

She disclosed that only her mother, father, brother, personal assistant, and closest friend were aware of the information.

Jackie 'O' Henderson breaks down as she reveals she wasn't always sure she would wake up at the height of her pill addiction: 'Someone was watching out for me!'

Even her longtime on-air partner, Kyle Sandilands, had no idea.

‘He joked, ‘Oh God, are you going to rehab?’ when I said I needed time off,’ Jackie recalled.

She remained tight-lipped, and Kyle never suspected the real reason behind her absence.

Reflecting on her choice to disclose her story at last, Jackie mused, ‘It was crucial for me to express it in my own words.’

She added that she hopes her experience inspires others to seek help.

It can be quite challenging for someone to raise their hand, especially when they declare, ‘I am choosing rehabilitation as a means of self-preservation…’ However, they should never feel compelled to conceal this decision.

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2024-11-04 14:18

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