Demi Lovato, now 23, has battled drug and alcohol addiction for years. She confirmed that she used to self-medicate and got involved in taking cocaine and OxyContin with alcohol. The singer also dealt with bipolar disorder and an eating disorder called bulimia.
E! News reported Demi Lovato's statement where she belived that she was going to die young even before going to rehab at the age of 18 in 2010. It was during this time that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was also advised to seek treatment for bulimia for three months.
She actually thought she wouldn't make it to 21. She checked in into a sober house for substance abuse and remained there for a year. Demi Lovato recalled she would hit cocaine every thirty minutes to an hour, even sneaking some into airplanes.
Disney Channel's Camp Rock star, Lovato, revealed that her family had a long history of women suffering from bulimia, where both her grandmother and mother struggled with the eating disorder as well. On the other hand, her father who died in 2013, battled with bipolar disorder and alcoholism.
Demi Lovato's body image insecurities started when she was a toddler. From the age 2 or 3, she wanted to have a flat tummy. She witnessed her mother's struggle with the eating disorder which worsened when her parents divorced. The singer believes her addictions and eating disorder are "hereditary."
Demi Lovato also suffered from bullying at school which led her to cut herself. Her story led her to stardom which she then used to inspire people by raising awareness for body image acceptance. Her powerful influence as a mental health advocate for young girls did pay off when fans thanked her for helping them stop resorting to self-inflicted pain and helped them stay sober. The fulfillment she derives from helping others with their self-image struggles is now giving the star a meaningful life, as per billboard.
The singer was reported to have had her last drink in January 2012. She continues to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and is celebrating her four years into sobriety. Demi Lovato has credited rehab and therapy for helping her battle bulimia and her addictions, as well as manage her bipolar disorder.
In an interview in 2015, Demi Lovato also expressed her appreciation for her then-boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama stating that he helped save her life. Although he wouldn't take credit to any of her sobriety and recovery, the singer guaranteed she wouldn't be alive without him, according to The Huffington Post.
