IN DECEMBER 2017, Mel B’s divorce from Stephen Belafonte was finalised.

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The demise of their relationship was well documented, with reports stating that Mel had claimed Stephen had been emotionally and physically abusive.

Eight months on, the mother-of-three says she has been struggling, and has made the decision to seek help in order to deal with her diagnosis of PTSD.

Speaking to the Sun on Sunday, the 43-year-old said:

The past six months have been incredibly difficult for me. I’ve been working with a writer on my book, Brutally Honest, and it has been unbelievably traumatic reliving an emotionally abusive relationship and confronting so many massive issues in my life.

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The singer says she used alcohol to cope with various issues which arose in recent years, and is keen to address these issues with the help of medical professionals.

I am being very honest about drinking to numb my pain but that is just a way a lot of people mask what is really going on.

“Sometimes it is too hard to cope with all the emotions I feel. But the problem has never been about sex or alcohol - it is underneath all that,” she explained.

I am fully aware I have been at a crisis point. No one knows myself better than I do – but I am dealing with it.

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Mel, who has forged an extremely successful career for herself in the States, is keen to return to her native Britain for treatment, as opposed to staying in the US.

I have made the decision to go into a proper therapy programme in the next few weeks, but it has to be in the UK because I am very, very British and I know that will work best for me.

While Mel knows the importance of seeking treatment for her own issues, she’s aware that the decision could have a far-reaching effect.

Indeed, she says she has decided to go public with her decision to seek therapy in the hopes it may encourage others to do the same.

I am still struggling but if I can shine a light on the issue of pain, PTSD and the things men and women do to mask it, I will do. I am speaking about this because this is a huge issue for so many people.

Mel is mother to 19-year-old Phoenix Chi, 11-year-old Angel Iris and six-year-old Madison.

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