Fans rally around Danniella Westbrook as she says therapy show ‘changed her life’

ACTRESS Danniella Westbrook's revelations about her heartbreaking history of drug addiction and sex abuse secured the support of fans after she spoke out about her experiences in her new TV show.

The one-off documentary Danniella Westbrook: In Therapy showed the blonde talk through some of her darkest moments with therapist Mandy Saligari where telly fans saw her veer from sadness to anger.

Yet after storming out of the sessions, crying with her head in her hands and branding Mandy a "melt" she emerged strong and said: "You have changed my life."

Fans were quick to take to Twitter throughout the show - as were Danniella's ex Celebrity Big Brother housemates.

Ex Hollyoaks babe Stephanie Davis posted: "makes me so said hearing it," with a heart broken Emoji followed by: "Love you Dan."

In another message she added: "Love ya momma bear."

Meanwhile her ex Dubliner Jez revealed he too was tuning in and added: "Luv ya babe!"

Yet it was the comments of the ex EastEnders star's loyal fans that proved most touching after Danniella revealed on-screen she had tried to kill herself.

She said: "I'm ashamed of the drugs - it's not the person I am, but it's how I fix myself and it's the quickest way to medicate myself into a death because I haven't wanted to be here.

"This last year has been tough; I've tried to kill myself - but I don't feel like that today."

One fan took to Twitter to write: "I really look up to you for getting help with your addition babe," while another added: "I really stand by you. This programme is so upsetting."

Another viewer wrote: "She's amazingly strong," while one put: "We had never heard of the septum until Danniella Westbrook invented it!"

He then said: "Hats off to her for doing this show. Addiction is the devil."

His comments came after the former soap babe talked about battling her cocaine addition as he career rocketed when she joined EastEnders aged 16.

She eventually needed surgery to re-build her nose.

Talking on the show, one of her pals said: "When I saw her nose I was shocked - it looked horrible."

Talking to the expert about snorting drugs when she had no nose, the blonde added: "Of course I knew. I just wanted to die."

Danniella, 42, also confessed being sexually abused as a schoolgirl means she feels "absolutely nothing" when making love.

Now all loved-up with toyboy George Arnold, said: "Sex doesn't mean anything to me ... I feel absolutely nothing."

Now a proud mum-of-two, she has bravely lifted the lid on her darker days for new Channel 5 show Danniella Westbrook: In Therapy and said: "I was sexually abused as a child.

"I was seven years old, it was within the workplace and that continued for a lot of my life."

In the TV chat she added: "At seven I was like a fourteen-year-old.

"There were certain things going on with me that shouldn't have been... I was betrayed by lots of people - for me, I've been the keeper of people's secrets for a long time and I don't want to do that any more."

Yet a handful of viewers glued to the Channel 5 show weren't so sympathetic.

One user reacted to Danniella storming away from a session after she thought her therapist had judged her for being late.

The social media user wrote: "Bloodyhell Danniella Westbrook this woman is trying to help you stop acting like a child."

Another wrote: "Part of therapy is to prod and provoke to get a real response. I hope Mandy gets a chance to help you more."

Yet just before the credits rolled it seemed Danniella's session had proved effective in battling her demons.

She said: "It feels good - it's really raw for me."

The mum then added: "I can change my life - I don't have another relapse in me ... I've made my mistakes and I've made them publicly but I've reclaimed my life and I'm holding it back up."

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