Demi Lovato: Cutting Herself Since Age 11!
We've known Demi Lovato is a "cutter," but the recent revelation that she began to slit her wrists and mutilate herself at age 11 is startling.
Now 18, Demi opened up to 20/20 about her recent stint in a treatment center, where she was treated for cutting, bulimia and emotional issues.
Cutting is "a way of expressing my own shame, of myself, on my own body," according to Demi, who adds she's been overeating since age eight.
Demi Lovato has also experienced - and been shaped by - bullying.
"I've spoken openly about being bullied throughout the past few years," she says.
"But one thing that I've never been able to feel comfortable talking about was the effects that it had on my life, afterward. I didn't know why they were being so mean to me. And when I would ask them why, they would just say, 'Well, you're fat."
Her torment turned into a lifelong disease, and one dangerous habit after another.
"I developed an eating disorder, and that's kind of what I've been dealing with ever since," she said. "I was matching the inside to the outside."
"And there were some times where my emotions were just so built up, I didn't know what to do," Demi Lovato says of spiraling out of control.
"The only way that I could get instant gratification," she chillingly notes, "was through an immediate release, and taking it out on myself."
During the interview, Lovato also says she takes "100 percent, full responsibility" for attacking her back-up dancer Alex Welch last year:
"I feel horrible, [She] was my friend."
Lovato says she hopes her story can "open up the eyes of so many young girls" who are fighting the same issues. We hope it does, too.
[Photo: WENN.com]
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May 23rd, 2012 1:24 AM
I hope everyone on here gets the help they so desperately need...
Life is beautiful and worth living to the fullest and not half hearted. Stay strong, beauty comes from a place where people cant see but what is projected to be admired. God bless
May 18th, 2012 11:13 AM
demi, you are a truly wonderful person. :`) i struggle with bulimia, depression, cutting, hating myself, and so one. my problems started when my siblings kept calling me fat, and what makes it worse is that my own brothers make fun of my eating disorder. i look up to you, and my dream is to meet you one day. you are beautiful. i dont care what anyone says
May 17th, 2012 9:01 PM
well I am 12 and I have been cutting for 2 years and my friends do it to and I am trying to stop cuz I an loseing some of my friends and i smoke and drink and I carved my bf name in my leg and he did the same on his arm and I want to stop but it is a thing tht I have been doing 4 a long time and my mom doent know that I do that and I have tried to kill my self multiple times and every time I reminded my self that I was put on this world for a reason and I want to find out wat I was made for and i have a loveing bf and I still cut but not as much and this story is like a version of my life I have all of that shit done to me and I hide razors and steak knifes in my room and cut when no ones looking and I lways wear a jacket to cover up my scars
May 16th, 2012 6:34 PM
I start cut myself age 10 right after my dad passed way in 1999 this is where i began turn dark side in myself and more diabolical and i began listen to satanic/depressiing music.
Demi i guess i've wrong about you being 'horndog' and forgive me i make fun of you till i didnt knew ur sself-mulitated yourself. I hope u can overcome these feelings, all best of you Demi
May 13th, 2012 6:12 PM
That's sad I babysit a little girl who's 10 and she has tryed to cut herself with a butter knife and she also stabs herself with pensils cause she says she's addicted to it
April 29th, 2012 9:32 AM
I have a friend that cuts. Shes 13 and has just started. I worry about her all the time. Shes an amazing person and doesnt deserve to be hurt yet shes hurting herself. Its getting serious and school have become aware. We're helping her through and the thing that seems to be helping most is when we remind her of ur story Demi. I love you forever and i hope u have a big influence on kids and adults forever. Thank you. Ur number 1 fan. Ella xxxxxxxxxxx
April 29th, 2012 12:54 AM
Demi im sorry my sister is 19 and she has been cutting her self for 12 years and me and her are big big fans of u but she has an eating disorter too and shes very mean and she atacked one of her best friends and she went to rehab for 9 years and she just got out yesterday i feel so bad for u and my sister im sorry demi thank you becuz in a way u changed my sister thank u i love u im ur #1 fan i love u
April 28th, 2012 2:49 PM
I don't cut. But, one of my friends does. It scares me EVERY day. The fact that Demi Lovato is OK, gives me hope for him.
April 26th, 2012 5:41 PM
I have been cutting for 2 years and Demi's story gave me help to stop. After that I went to treament for my cutting and wanting to cumitte suiced.
April 25th, 2012 5:39 PM
i have been cutting myself for 4 and a half years now, i have tried to kill myself a couple different times, i am fourteen years old. It's not all ways about being bullied, i mean no disrepect by this people take different thing differently. i stoped caring about what people said about me honestly in thrid grade. why i do it is complicated. but i understand what yall mean. just remember that what people say doesn't have to hurt you. And demi just keep trying, i believe in you. wish yall the best of luck.