Image Group LA/ABCDemi Lovato is opening up to Dr. Phil about some of her darkest times.
In an interview that airs Tuesday, the singer admits to having suicidal thoughts as early as age seven.
“The very first time I was suicidal was when I was seven. I had this fascination with death,” the singer tells Dr. Phil, in a clip obtained by Entertainment Tonight. “I have experienced things that I have not talked about, and I don’t know if I ever will talk about. But at seven, I knew that if I were to take my own life, that the pain would end.”
She says she experienced those thoughts again when she was bullied and during several other times in her life when she was dealing with her bipolar disorder. She also struggled with self-harm.
“I turned to cutting and there was a while there when my mom was afraid to wake me up in the mornings because she didn’t know if she opened the door if I would be alive or not,” Demi says. “Because every time I cut, it got deeper and deeper.”
Demi eventually sought treatment for her mental health and addictions, and last week celebrated six years sober.
Demi says she would tell anyone feeling suicidal today to “hold on because the longer you go without acting on an urge, the easier it will be for you and the more resilient, the more strong you’ll become.”
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