Demi Lovato recently celebrated five years of sobriety, which she marked with an an inspiring post on Instagram.
Unlike some celebrities, Demi has always been extremely open when it came to the struggles she experienced early on in her career. In addition to suffering from bulimia and depression, Demi also abused alcohol, cocaine, and OxyContin .
According to Lovato, she was living “fast and hard,” and didn’t believe that she would live to see her 21st birthday. Demi’s breaking point came when she punched one of her background dancers, while on tour with The Jonas Brothers in 2012. Thankfully, that situation prompted Demi to check into rehab and get herself some help.
What an awesome night???? #vanityfair #oscars @moniquelhuillier
A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on
Thankfully, those days are behind her now. In an inspiring Instagram post this past Wednesday, the singer/songwriter shared a screenshot of her progress alongside an inspiring message.
A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on
To celebrate five years of sobriety, Demi Lovato decided to give back. According to E! News , Demi Lovato drove around Los Angeles and passed out multiple checks to causes near and dear to her heart. The charities were chosen at random, but they all reflect causes that Demi Lovato is passionate about.
One of the charities included was Ace of Hearts, an animal rescue mission.
TMZ reports that Demi Lovato donated $5,000 to the charity. The singer also personally delivered the check to Ace of Heart’s founder, Kari Whitman.
Demi Lovato also delivered checks to charities that revolved around LGBT rights and adoption. During her charity drive, Demi was joined by the CEO of CAST Centers, “an addiction treatment facility in which Lovato owns a part of as she delivered the checks,” according to Rare.
Before I got SLIMED!!???? #KCAs????????????
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It’s evident that Demi Lovato recognizes how fortunate she was to be able to receive help for her addictions. It’s become common for young stars to succumb to the pressures of stardom. Though recovery is an ongoing battle for past addicts, Demi is obviously grateful for the progress she’s made.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight , Demi spoke on how she feels about her recovery .
“It feels amazing. All I’ve been doing is focusing on bettering myself. It’s been quite the journey, but it’s well worth it,’ she started. “Surrendering is the most important thing whenever you’re trying to battle your demons. You have to admit that you have a problem first, and then you can overcome them.”
During an interview with American Way Magazine , Demi Lovato also spoke about th e impact her struggles have had on her fans.
“When I have meet-and-greets, I can’t tell you the amount of times that girls will show me their arms covered in scars or cuts,” she told the magazine. “They’ll tell me, ‘You helped me get through this. Because of you, I stopped self-harming,’ or ‘I got sober.’ Hearing those things gave my life new meaning.”
It’s great that Demi Lovato has decided to celebrate five years of sobriety by giving back. Tell us, what do you think of Demi’s charitable acts? Does Demi Lovato’s story inspire you? Sound off in the comment section below.
[Featured Image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]
