Tulisa Contostavlos has revealed the hidden health battle that forced her to leave the aftermath of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! The N-Dubz singer admitted she became overwhelmed by the experience and struggled with anxiety, leading to her abrupt departure from Australia after being voted out of the jungle.
Speaking on Paul C Brunson's We Need to Talk podcast, Tulisa detailed the mental and physical struggles viewers never saw. She suffered night terrors for the first four days and had anxiety attacks, one of which nearly made her quit the show. 'I went to the smoking area to bring my heart rate down,' she said. She credited her campmates for helping her stay, but after leaving the jungle, she felt out of place at the reunion hotel and spent time crying in her room.
Tulisa praised ITV for understanding her needs and supporting her decision to return to the UK. Back home, she spent four days in bed with her phone off, watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy for escapism. She also revealed a past battle with prescription drug dependency during lockdown, after self-medicating with sleeping pills when her dog was diagnosed with cancer. Going cold turkey landed her in hospital, but she described it as a turning point that made her 'feel alive again.'
The singer also discussed her long-term health issues, including a 12-year struggle with Bell's palsy, which caused facial paralysis and depression. Before entering the jungle, she had cysts removed from her cheeks, which brought 'instant relief.' Tulisa, who identifies as demisexual, said she has faith the universe will bring the right person. Reflecting on her journey, she hopes to inspire others facing similar struggles. 'What I've been through has made me stronger. I'm learning to live with myself again,' she said.
