Spice Girl and America’s Got Talent judge Mel B, revealed in an interview with England’s The Sun that she has been diagnosed with PTSD. This disorder stemmed from her recent divorce from garbage person Stephen Belafonte and the loss of her father, which she has brought up many times on AGT.
Mel has been working on her biography, Brutally Honest, which is set to be released on November 27. She mentioned that the process of putting the book together was “unbelievably traumatic.” She has been in a course of therapy called EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and, after crowning Hans this season’s America’s Got Talent winner (I hope, I hope) she is planning on spring some time in a UK-based therapy center. Mel told The Sun on Sunday,
”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.
“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.
“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. 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. 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 has been through a lot in her 43 years, and I hope that therapy is beneficial for her. She needs to get healthy as she’s going to be a busy lady in 2019. The Sun also reported on Sunday that a Posh-less Spice Girls will reunite next year for a 13-city UK tour, including a three night stand at Wembley Stadium. Apparently Mel wasn’t just crying wolf, but I’m not booking my tickets to London quite yet. Get better soon, Mel B.
Photos: Getty, WENN
Anyone here tried EMDR? I was seeing a psychologist last year who mentioned it but we never got around to doing it.
I have not but a friend of mine highly recommends it. She also does CBT and talk therapy so I’m not sure how effective it might be without the added support of the extra therapy sessions. I personally cannot imagine doing three therapy sessions per week but of course everyone is different and if you find something that works it’s good to run with it for a while.
It is controversial. Some people love it, others hate it. I’m in the camp of people who do not like it at all but also recognize that it can be beneficial.
It is useful for trauma but less so for complex trauma. In other words, if you have one major event to unpack, it can be quite useful. If you suffer from complex trauma and long-term, multi-source issues, it can be really problematic if your therapist in inadequately trained (in other words: overly-enthusiastic about trying out this particular skill that they learned during a weekend training).
If your therapist cannot cogently outline the pros and cons of EMDR, then beware. Your best bet, if you are interested in trying this therapy, is to look at Babette Rothschild’s *The Body Remembers* and pay attention to the opening chapters in which she discusses ways to safely approach this modality. Your therapist needs to start slowly, get to know you, and s/he must be aware of your limits and your level of trauma. Jumping into EMDR without setting the boundaries is a recipe for trouble.
I could ramble on and on but I’d look at the above-referenced text and be aware. I do not like EMDR but I recognize that it can be useful when correctly applied.
Where I work we have looked into edmr for domestic advise victims/ survivors. It’s unusual but had got some small studies to back it up. What’s great id’s you cam use out in conjunction south loads of other type off therapies
I had a lot of success with EMDR in conjunction with more traditional cognitive therapy – helped me make a lot of progress that might otherwise have taken years.
It is not for everyone and is not a fix-all (I still have regular appointments with a cognitive therapist but have discontinued routine EMDR) but is worth a try with a professional who knows what they are doing.
Yes, and I loved it. Recommend for anyone with some issue they are struggling to get over.
Yeaaaaaah, Mel B has a myriad of issues and is incredibly problematic on her own, never mind as a result of the trauma she’s been through so I hope she gets what she needs from this.
There’s a sadness to Mel B that’s very clear.
She guest hosted on “The Real” recently and she was trying to be upbeat like the other ladies, but her spirit and energy just seemed sad.
Hope she get through this chapter stronger and happier 🙂
Yes I’ve experienced EMDR as a client and I also use it on some clients as a psychotherapist. Some interesting research behind it. I wish Mel B the next in her recovery.
Yes I’ve experienced EMDR as a client and I also use it on some clients as a psychotherapist. Some interesting research behind it. I wish Mel B the best in her recovery.
Yes. I’m doing it now actually. I’ve wanted to for a long time and heard good things from counselors and a friend. Just started and only 2 sessions in but painless and I’m hopeful.
I started EMDR, but i think I started too soon after my traumatic event. I developed a real fear of driving and a big fear of leaving my home after my daughter suddenly passed. I didn’t stick with it because I couldn’t get to my appointments by myself. I’m much more functional now but I wish I’d stuck with it. It might have helped me transition into functionality a little more smoothly.
I am so very sorry for your loss VeronicaLodge.
i saw a couple of trash outlets reporting that she’s going to rehab for sex and alcohol addiction, but…there’s so much more clarity here and really hope she’s ok for the sake of her children and also herself. She’s been through so much from the Eddie Murphy and this hellish ex of hers. It’s been crazy how he was “getting away” with things.
The spice girls reunion thing—my guess is that Posh is resistant because she wants to focus on David and her business, especially since we all know what he’s like. If she’s away from an extended period of time, who knows what will happen with him?
*googles EMDR*
EMDR helped my teenage daughter a lot after a really bad car accident.
I find it extremely difficult to deal with the amount of financial support that her POS husband is getting. The courts should cut him off and make him get a job like the rest of us. His pettiness and lack of taking responsibility for anything makes me crazy. I wish the judge would wake up and force this POS to get a job.