Michelle Heaton breaks down in tears as she reflects on alcohol and drug addiction which caused her to become suicidal

by

Michelle Heaton became emotional and shared details about her struggles with alcohol and drugs in a recent and honest interview on Tuesday.

The 46-year-old former Liberty X singer became emotional while sharing that she had felt hopeless during her struggle with addiction.

Michelle has been in recovery since 2021, following a long struggle with addiction that she recently shared nearly cost her life.

The singer struggled with binge eating during her time in Liberty X and developed a reliance on alcohol. This led to years of heavy drinking, to the point where she sometimes couldn’t face the day without a drink.

In 2012, Michelle had a mastectomy, which she felt led to a loss of her sense of self and caused her to start using alcohol and cocaine.

Michelle shared on the We Need to Talk podcast with Paul C. Brunson that she struggled with serious addictions and experienced suicidal thoughts as a result.

She explained that whenever she attempted to quit drinking, she experienced withdrawal symptoms and felt unwell. She found that consuming alcohol actually made her feel better.

‘I would feel physically sick and when I drank it settled me and I felt better.’

With tears streaming down her face, Michelle shared, ‘I often felt like I didn’t want to face another day, and there were times I just didn’t want to live.’

I felt trapped and helpless, unable to find a solution or reach out for support. I was aware I was harming myself, and I eventually resigned myself to the belief that I would simply die.

Michelle confessed that when she drank alcohol, she lost her ability to feel concern for her husband, Hugh Hanley, and their children, Faith, 13, and AJ, 11.

‘Alcohol stripped me away from all of that, it stripped me of the ability to care’, she explained. 

At that time, I felt like alcohol was the most important thing in my life, even more than my family. I was desperate, on my knees, praying and begging for someone to help me.

Michelle spoke fondly of her husband, Hugh, whom she married in 2010, and highlighted his unwavering support.

She said it was painful for him to watch her self-destructive behavior with alcohol and drugs.

Michelle admitted that as her addiction worsened, she subconsciously started behaving recklessly, almost wanting someone to notice she was struggling, because she didn’t know how to ask for help herself.

Michelle shared with the Daily Mail that a night out with Katie Price helped her decide to stop drinking.

Michelle admitted she was struggling, but felt she couldn’t talk to anyone about it.

She shared that she often struggled to quit drinking, even when she really wanted to. She also felt ashamed to admit she was still drinking because she had already announced she was stopping.

I used to really struggle with feeling stuck in a pattern, constantly asking myself why I couldn’t break free. The worst part was feeling totally alone – I honestly believed nobody else could possibly understand what I was going through, so I kept it all bottled up. I remember one night being out with friends, and it was a relief to see Katie wasn’t drinking – it was a small thing, but it made me feel a little less isolated.

Michelle continued, explaining she was shocked and frustrated. She’d come hoping to enjoy herself, but the drink wasn’t making her happy at all – that was the whole problem.

I started wondering, if others could succeed, especially if they managed to stay sober, what steps did they take to get there?

‘And then as soon as I accepted I needed help, help was always there.’

After receiving treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at The Priory, Katie stopped drinking alcohol for a year.

Michelle has spoken about how her problems with alcohol started when she was in the band Liberty X. She shared that there were occasions when the band members would drink in the mornings before doing TV appearances.

She explained that she used to believe she couldn’t perform without alcohol, as she struggled with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. She felt like she needed a drink to calm her nerves.

The first performances I did after finishing rehab felt completely new. I experienced a fantastic feeling afterward that I’d never known before, because I used to numb everything with alcohol.

Michelle explained that rehab helped her overcome alcoholism and also taught her how to manage her reactions and set healthy boundaries.

‘I’ve allowed myself to be in situations I should never have been in,’ she explained.

I was a people-pleaser and said yes to everything, whether it was staying out late or hanging out with strangers. I didn’t know how to set limits or say no.

That’s not good for me – it affects more than just my drinking. It also damages my confidence and how I feel about myself.

After receiving treatment and understanding what I had neglected, my perspective has completely shifted for the future.

Look, I’m not claiming to be perfect. I definitely have my moments – I can get frustrated and, yeah, I sometimes lose my cool and yell. It just happens, you know? Life isn’t always smooth sailing, and I’m human, so I mess up sometimes.

I used to get really upset over little things, but I’ve learned to handle them better now. I’ve also gotten better at setting boundaries and saying no when I need to.

Michelle acknowledges she’s prone to addiction and has long struggled with alcohol. However, her drinking became much worse after she had a hysterectomy at 35.

She discovered she had the BRCA2 mutation gene, giving her an increased risk of getting cancer.

To lower her risk of both breast and ovarian cancer, Michelle proactively chose to have a double mastectomy and, later, a hysterectomy – surgery to remove the uterus.

She said the choice was simple because she had a very high chance – 85 percent – of something happening. She admitted she hadn’t considered the potential outcomes and that her reaction to the situation wasn’t healthy.

Even though I wouldn’t trade my two healthy children, experiencing menopause so young really changed my life.

I understand why someone might turn to alcohol in that situation, and it certainly sped up the process of developing a problem.

It’s hard because people can’t see what’s happening with your body or truly understand what you’re feeling, especially as a teenager. At that age, most people don’t want to discuss those kinds of things, and I felt like I didn’t belong.

Honestly, I was really struggling. I just didn’t have the energy to face the world, and I felt terrible about myself. I had no interest in intimacy, or even making eye contact with people. Alcohol became my escape, my way of numbing everything.

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, you can get free help from Alcoholics Anonymous. Call 0800 917 7650 or email them at help@aamail.org.

If you have been affected by this story contact Samaritans on: 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org 

Read More

2026-05-12 20:20