20 February 2024 , 21:17
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Former Love Island star Malin Andersson has candidly revealed she underwent a three-week rehab course to tackle a secret drink and drug addiction.
The 31-year-old reality star found fame on the ITV dating show back in 2016 - and her life has since been beset with trauma. She welcomed a daughter named Consy with her ex-boyfriend Tom Kemp, who she started dating in 2018. But Consy tragically died a month after she arrived.
Her child’s death came just weeks after the death of her mother, Consy-Gloria, died following a cancer battle. Malin welcomed her second daughter, Xaya, in January 2022 - but split with the baby’s father, Jared, soon after the baby arrived. Malin’s father also died of cancer - while she has battled eating disorders, lost friends to suicide and has also survived domestic abuse.
Malin says she spiralled down a dangerous path following her split with Jared - and that it was he that advised her to seek help. She checked herself into a three-week recovery programme which cost a reported £12,000 - which she says she is grateful she was able to afford.
Malin says she struggled not seeing her daughter, Xaya, while in rehab (Instagram)
The Love Island star says she is feeling at peace following her treatment (missmalinsara/Instagram)Malin admits that she didn’t initially think she had a problem. She explained to The Sun: “I don't drink every day. I don't wake up and want to drink. Sometimes I can go two months without it. But I was using alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism.”
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Detailing how much she would drink, she said: “I would drink a lot. It could be three bottles of wine, or champagne, or whatever, then shots… Drugs weren't involved all the time, but they were if I was with the wrong crowd. Then I'd go back to normal and that would last for a few weeks - then the cycle would be repeated again.”
Malin - who was on the second season of Love Island back in 2016, went on to say she has encountered a lot of other people who are negative and depressed within the entertainment industry because they drink too much and take cocaine. She thinks drink and the Class A drug have led to people taking their own lives - including some former Love Island contestants.
Thinking back to her treatment, the reality star says it was difficult and explained she was only allowed to see her daughter once a week for three hours. She said: "It was a hardest thing I've ever done, especially being away from Xaya for three weeks. I knew it was the right thing to do - not even for her - but for myself. The amount of things that we hold as people is insane and when you've gone through a lot of trauma like me, it can come out and stem in different directions, like addiction.
"There's so many different things that we divert our attention to, instead of addressing what's going on in our minds and in our hearts. Learning to be still myself was hard, but I unlocked so much stuff.”
Since completing her rehab stint, Malin says her life is improving and she has a better relationship with Xaya’s father. She explained that she had been using him as an emotional punching bag before she sought treatment and would often send him abusive messages when she was drunk. She now plans to remain sober “forever” and feels she will one day be able to move on and find new love. She also spoke of feeling content and happy inside.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch