Pop star Lily Allen has made a raw and personal confession, revealing she is undergoing specialised therapy to address a compulsive spending habit that has been draining her finances.
The Podcast Confession
The 40-year-old singer shared the intimate details on the Christmas special of her Miss Me? podcast, which she hosts with her friend Miquita Oliver. Allen disclosed that for the past four to five months, she has been trying Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to confront her unhealthy relationship with money.
She explained that the therapy sessions have helped her uncover a painful link between her self-worth and her bank account. "I actually did EMDR therapy yesterday on my spending and how it’s related to my sense of self-worth," Allen told listeners. "We tried to separate the two. So let’s see how that goes."
Unpacking the Compulsion
Allen described a pattern of trying to "get rid of" money quickly, driven by a deep-seated feeling that she does not deserve it. Her expensive tastes, she admitted, are directly tied to issues of low self-esteem. The therapy is helping her detach emotional meaning from material objects and challenge the belief that luxury items can improve her value as a person.
While she joked on the podcast about buying herself a costly emerald ring as a "little present," her commitment to therapy underscores the seriousness of the issue. Her public appearances, such as being photographed with a £16,500 Hermès handbag while stepping out of a £120,000 Porsche in London, highlight the very habits she is working to understand and manage.
Broader Context and Personal Struggles
This financial confession follows a period of significant personal turmoil for the West End Girl hitmaker. Her marriage to Stranger Things actor David Harbour ended in early 2025 after reports of infidelity, a split that inspired her latest raw and emotional album.
The singer has been open about the toll the breakup took on her mental health, previously checking into an £8,000-a-week trauma facility to deal with panic attacks. She also revealed she underwent breast augmentation surgery due to body confidence issues stemming from rapid weight loss during that difficult time.
Allen has called the EMDR process "life-changing," even though she admits she doesn't fully grasp the science behind it. Her candid discussion shines a light on the complex psychological roots of compulsive behaviour, offering a rare glimpse into the personal battles fought behind a celebrity's glamorous facade.
