Michelle Heaton vowed to give up alcohol every New Year for “at least five years” and start drinking around noon on New Year's Day before entering rehab in 2021.
The 44-year-old singer downed a liter of vodka and a bottle of wine on New Year's Eve and had to drink the next day to keep herself balanced as she battled anxiety, nausea and pain from her binge eating.
Pop star Michelle, who shares children Faith, 11, and AJ, 9, with husband Hugh Hanley, decided she wanted to change her behavior on New Year's Day 2021 and sought help, with the artist now almost three years sober.
She said The sun: 'Every New Year, at least the five years before I quit, I promised myself and everyone else that I would quit drinking.
“I could swear I'd be sober before January, but by the afternoon of the 1st I'd be drunk again, back on the Bellinis. I just couldn't stop.'
Michelle Heaton vowed to quit alcohol every New Year for 'at least five years' and would drink around noon on New Year's Day before entering rehab in 2021 (Michelle pictured in June)
The singer, 44, drank a liter of vodka and a bottle of wine on New Year's Eve and drank the next day to steady herself as she battled anxiety, nausea and pain from her binge eating (Michelle photo shortly before checking into rehab in 2021 )
After years of heavy drinking, Michelle attended the Priory Clinic in April 2021, where she received help for her alcohol addiction.
And she says every New Year is a reminder of how far she has come.
She said, “Although April is my sobriety anniversary, this will be my third sober New Year. And when I think about it, it's really amazing.
'That first Christmas and New Year was very difficult. Of course I wanted to drink and I had to fight that very hard.
'But I got through it, and the second one was easier: I didn't feel like I was being triggered or like I wanted to drink. And now . . . this is my life.'
While Michelle is no longer drinking, the Liberty
Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Michelle claims she was days from death before heading to rehab.
'My pancreas wasn't working properly. My liver function was very abnormal and that caused a lot of problems,” she explained.
Pop star Michelle decided on New Year's Day 2021 that she wanted to change her behavior and sought help in April that year, with the artist now almost three years sober.
“My abdomen was firm, especially on the right side where the liver is, and it hurt all the time.”
She told me earlier Closer magazine: 'Rehab saved my life. After my medical examination there, they told me that if I had not received help, I would have been dead within days.
'I'm still on medication to help my pancreas function as it has been completely destroyed.
“Recovery is the hardest thing I've ever done, but my fight to stay sober is something I will do every day for the rest of my life.”
Over the Christmas period of 2020, Michelle was hospitalized after a massive drinking session in Liverpool, which saw the star put on a drip for 48 hours after blacking out.
However, after she was discharged from the hospital, she went straight to the nearest liquor store and continued drinking.
Michelle, who shares children Faith, 11, and AJ, 9, with husband Hugh Hanley (pictured), is constantly working on her recovery and insists just one drink can get her back on track
Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Michelle claims she was days from death before heading to rehab (pictured with children Faith and AJ)
Weeks earlier, she had collapsed backstage in a theater as she prepared to go on stage for a performance, when the drink left her dangerously dehydrated.
Michelle recently said she feels “lucky to be alive” after getting sober, believing she has a guardian angel watching over her.
Michelle told me new! magazine: 'On paper I should have died years ago. But there is an angel watching over me and I am so grateful.
“Every day I know I'm lucky to be alive and here for Faith and AJ.”
Meanwhile, Michelle lashed out at 'so-called friends' who tried to cash in on her addiction nightmare.
She said OK! magazine: 'When I came out of rehab, my family and I decided to share my story on my own time and in my own words so that the story couldn't be distorted by people around me who were so-called friends.'
When asked who betrayed her, Michelle explained: 'I had people trying to make some money and sell their experiences with my addiction. Those people know who they are.
Michelle recently said she feels “lucky to be alive” after getting sober, believing she has a guardian angel watching over her (Michelle still performs with two of her Liberty center, and Kelli Young, right)
“So I took it into my own hands to tell my truth. In the end it did me a favor; it has helped me to be honest and help others.”
Michelle has now been sober for two and a half years and insists she has felt liberated by beating her addiction.
She told the publication: 'I feel great. I'm so free now and it's a place I dreamed of coming to.'
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