Demi Lovato Is Alive, Despite Her Best Efforts Not to Be

It’s nothing new to suggest that Demi Lovato has had her struggles in life. But the longer she’s been on the other side of her public meltdown, the more we seem to learn about that time in her life. In 2012, Lovato entered treatment for alcohol, cocaine and Oxycontin addiction. But her issues started long before that. The singer/actress was struggling with an eating disorder all at the same time and it’s no secret that drugs keep that weight off. She sat down with American Way to open up more of her life’s torment:

Even though I was 2 or 3 years old, being around somebody who was 80 pounds and had an active eating disorder, it’s hard not to grow up like that.

Yeah, my grandmother has an actual fear of fat people and keeps Weight Watchers brochures in her purse. She’s the kinda bitch that can smell when you’ve gained a pound. It’s a real way to grow up.

My body-image awareness started way before that, but I do attribute a little of my insecurities to being on stage and judged for my beauty.

Body image issues only exasperated her underlying condition, which is just usually how it goes.

Once I started eating again, the other issues got worse. It was like Whack-a-Mole. I lived fast and I was going to die young. I didn’t think I would make it to 21.

And now she’s a role model for all us other people who have ever felt like dying.

I didn’t go into treatment thinking, OK, now I’m going to be an inspiration. At times, I was resentful for having that kind of responsibility, but now, it’s really become a part of my life. It holds me accountable.

Keep coming at us with the twitter inspo, girl.