Demi Lovato has opened up about eating disorders, body image and unhealthy relationships, revealing that she feels stronger and healthier than ever.
Sitting down for a candid interview with Cosmo on Campus, the 20-year-old actress and singer shared her thoughts on the struggles of being a teenage girl.
"I was about 12 or 13 when I developed my eating disorder, and at that time nobody in the public eye talked about their body issues," she said. "I feel that if someone had admitted they had a problem, then I wouldn't have gone down that route myself.
"That's my goal in talking about my problems: I want to be the person for other girls that I needed to admire when I was looking for help and strength."
As well as crediting friends like Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez for helping her get by, Demi revealed that inner strength also comes from accepting who you are.
"It's OK to love your body the way it is," she said. "And it's OK to reach out for help if you have drug or alcohol problems or if you’re self-harming or being bullied."
Demi, who is just as famous for her love life as she is for her midnight Twitter rants, went on to talk about the influence that her past romantic relationships had on her life.
"I was always looking for distractions because I was so afraid of being alone," she admitted. "It is very unhealthy when girls devote all of their time to a guy and forget their friends and family. I did that."
After spending some time in a health retreat, Demi admits she's in a much better place where she "can finally trust and love" in a relationship.
"[I can be a] better person for the man I am in a relationship with, instead of being a clingy girlfriend or getting jealous.
"[I'm] taking care of myself and not focusing on guys."
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