Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton says she had a ‘full mental breakdown’ and went to psychiatric care after fourth child
NATASHA Hamilton has revealed that she had a “full mental breakdown” and ended up in psychiatric care after she gave birth to her fourth child.
The Atomic Kitten star, 38, says she “lost the plot” after divorcing her husband Riad Erraji in 2013 and had a breakdown the following year after having her daughter Ella.
“I was married for seven years, got divorced, lost the plot a little bit, went through some mental health ups and downs, and then I had my daughter in 2014,” Natasha said on the Mindkite Podcast.
Despite suffering post-natal depression when she had her first son Josh in 2002, the singer wasn’t prepared for what would happen next.
“When I had my little girl and I had a full breakdown and I was under the care of a mental health team, the care of a psychiatrist,” she said.
“It was then, I was just like, ‘We can’t keep doing this Tash. You need to sort your s*** out.'”
Flame-haired Natasha was parachuted into Atomic Kitten’s line-up when she replaced Heidi Range in 1999 – at the age of 16.
Natasha explained that it took a long time to “find herself” when she quit the band at 22.
“I’d grown up in this intense bubble, totally wrapped in cotton wool for five years, then all of a sudden I’m out of that and they’re all doing their thing over there and I’m literally on my own here, going, ‘I don’t know how to live a normal life,,'” she explains.
“My whole life was scheduled, and all of a sudden I’m like, “What do I do?”
Natasha left London and moved back up north to settle down with her then husband Riad – but it wasn’t the end of her problems.
“I was the breadwinner when it came to being in a relationship with a guy,” she said.
“I’d be the one taking us out and buying stuff and doing things, which obviously for a young guy as well, that’s going to do your head in.”
Atomic Kitten briefly reformed in 2012 and on a number of occasions after that until Kerry Katona quit once again in 2017.
In 2015 Natasha appeared in Celebrity Big Brother, which saw her come in third place.
In 2019 Natasha decided to get her own “independence” by enrolling back into college.
“I went to beauty school one day a week,” she said.
“I’d get my tunic on. I was studying for exams and all of a sudden it was like, ‘Ah, this is who Natasha Hamilton is.’
“I’m not just Natasha from Atomic Kitten, I’m a woman who wants other things.”
Now a qualified unconscious mind therapist, Natasha has come to terms with her demons after “giving herself a slap”.
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She says: “I genuinely loved a bit of a pity party when I look back. It was like, ‘Oh why is this happening to me? This is so bad!’
“I’ve had to give myself a little slap and go, ‘Hang on a minute, get some balls, own your shit, get on with it!’
Natasha has son Josh with nightclub owner and original Love Island champ Fran Cosgrave, Harry with dancer Gavin Hatcher, Alfie with businessman Riad Erraji, and daughter Ella with Five’s Ritchie Neville.