Cara Delevingne reveals she first got drunk aged seven and mental health issues began in childhood

Cara Delevingne has revealed that her substance abuse problems began as a child and culminated in her breakdown at age 15.

speaking to Fashion magazine the 30-year-old model confessed that she got drunk for the first time at the age of seven, recalling: ‘I woke up at my grandmother’s house in my room with a hangover, wearing a bridesmaid dress. She had been preparing glasses of champagne.

Three years later, at just 10 years old, he was prescribed sleeping pills in an attempt to control his insomnia and as a teenager was diagnosed with dyspraxia, a neurological condition that affects physical coordination.

It was this that Cara claims started her mental health and self-harm issues, revealing that she tried art therapy, music therapy, EMDR and CBT in an attempt to control it.

At age 15, Cara had a mental breakdown, previously explaining that it was the result of “everything I hadn’t dealt with coming to the surface”.

Elaborating on the troubled time, he said: “I was on medication and it just… saved my life.” This wasn’t so much a chemical imbalance as it was a complete response to the trauma.

‘I hadn’t discovered the damned hole inside, the real whirlpool inside. And I still think that there is a part of diagnosis and labeling that is detrimental. There were so many times that they encouraged me to take this or put that on me.’

The model-turned-actress admitted to self-harm by banging her head against a tree “to try and knock me out.”

He described scratching himself, was prescribed antipsychotic medication, and at his lowest point, contemplated taking his own life.

Cara witnessed the trauma growing up, with her mother Pandora battling heroin addiction.

Sometimes Pandora, the daughter of Sir Jocelyn Stevens, the publishing magnate, and Jane Sheffield, Princess Margaret’s lady-in-waiting, even moved out of the family home to try and avoid the children seeing her.

Pandora recently said: ‘You are either an addictive person or you are not. Am. I’m paranoid that girls drink too much or take too many drugs, understandably I think. I talk to them about it. They say, ‘I’m fine, Mom,’ or ‘I’m this or I’m that,’ but they’re not addicted.’

The effect of this instability on Cara was severe. She previously said: ‘I was a loving girl and I wanted to make sure everyone was okay. It didn’t feel bad. But looking back, I think, “Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have put myself in that position.”

Candid: The 30-year-old model confessed to getting drunk for the first time at age seven, recalling, “I woke up at my grandmother’s house in my bedroom hungover, wearing a bridesmaid dress.”

One leak came through Sarah Doukas of the Storm modeling agency: her daughter and Cara were best friends and she suggested Cara, an intern at Bedales, try out on camera.

Although she really wanted to become a rock actress or drummer, she found sensational success almost instantly.

In 2012, Cara became the new It girl of fashion. At 20, with her distinctive bushy eyebrows and her quirky personality, she was a breakout star.

However, she later confessed, “A few years later, I realized that modeling was not good for me physically or emotionally and that I would have to try different things.”

He then added: ‘Money isn’t everything. You get to the point where you’re like, ‘Oh, I’ve made money, but I’m so deeply unhappy and alone. ‘

For help with alcohol related problems in the UK, contact Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) on 0800 9177 650. For problems with drug use, please speak to FRANK on 0300 123 6600.

If you need help with drug or alcohol problems in the US, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Childhood trauma: Cara witnessed trauma growing up, with her mother Pandora battling heroin addiction (pictured in 2014)