Michelle Heaton has celebrated her sobriety on Instagram, marking five years since her last drink and reflecting on everything she has gained. The Liberty X star, 46, once drank two bottles of wine and a bottle of vodka nearly every day, and was hospitalised in 2021 during her battle with alcohol. Now, she says she is living without the 'anxiety, lying and manipulation' of alcoholism.
A Milestone Anniversary
Sharing a sweet family photo with her husband Hugh and their two children, Faith, 13, and AJ, 11, Michelle wrote: 'Tomorrow marks five years since I closed the door on addiction, but today is a powerful anniversary that matters just as much to me.. to my family. 5 years ago I had my last drink and chose to ask for help. A day where I decided I deserved more than the repeat cycle I was in.'
Life After Alcohol
Since quitting alcohol, Michelle says she has become more 'resilient and honest' and urged others struggling with addiction to get help. She continued: 'Since then, life has become beautiful again, steadier mornings, less anxiety, the lying and manipulation has stopped and an inner strength I had to build one day at a time. Five years on, it’s not just about what I gave up, but everything I have gained: resilience, honesty, and a version of myself that shows up fully.'
'Today feels like a full-circle moment, a reminder that one decision, to admit I needed help, has given me a life beyond my wildest dreams. It has given my wonderful husband his wife back and my incredible kids their mum.'
A Turning Point
Last year, Michelle told the Daily Mail that a night out with Katie Price made her realise it was time to embrace sobriety. She explained: 'There were many times when I wanted to stop drinking but I couldn't and then I didn't want to tell anybody I couldn't because I'd already told them I was stopping.' She recalled being out with friends, including Katie, who weren't drinking, and thinking: 'What the f**k? I've come here to have a good time. But I wasn't having a good time, the drink was not giving me any joy.'
'And then I just thought, God, if they can do it, if she can do it, if they could be sober, what did they do? And then as soon as I accepted I needed help, help was always there.'
Struggles and Recovery
Michelle's struggles with alcoholism began during her time in Liberty X, where she would drink in the mornings before TV appearances to combat impostor syndrome. She said: 'I never thought I could perform without having a drink because I suffer from impostor syndrome. I thought I needed a drink to squash the nerves.' After rehab, she felt a high from performing without alcohol that she had never experienced before.
Rehab also helped her establish boundaries. 'I've allowed myself to be in situations I should never have been in,' she explained. 'I said yes to anything, to staying out all night, to partying with people I'd just met. I had absolutely zero boundaries. That's not healthy, not just on an alcohol side, but with my pride, my self-esteem and my self-worth.'
She added: 'I don't get it perfect. I kick off sometimes. Life can get messy and I lose my temper and shout. But before, my reaction to the small things would be catastrophic. And now I've also learnt how to say no.'
Health Challenges
Michelle admits her drinking spiralled after she had a full hysterectomy at age 35 due to the BRCA2 gene mutation, which increased her cancer risk. She had a preventative double mastectomy and hysterectomy. 'I had an 85 percent risk so it was an easy decision. I didn't think about the consequences, or what that might look like and the way I coped with that wasn't right.' She added: 'I don't blame that for being an alcoholic but it was definitely a catalyst to how quickly it happened after that.'
Michelle urged others: 'If you are struggling, google alcohol awareness / addiction help and there are so many help lines and call centres, so many more than there were back then. It is possible to live a life filled with hope, faith and courage.'
For help with alcohol addiction, contact Alcoholics Anonymous for free on 0800 917 7650 or email help@aamail.org
