Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton says she had “complete mental breakdown” and went to psychiatric care after fourth child
NATASHA Hamilton has revealed that she suffered from “complete mental breakdown” and ended up in psychiatric care after giving birth to her fourth child.
The Atomic Kitten star, 38, says she “lost the plot” after divorcing her husband Riad Erraji in 2013 and broke up the following year after having daughter Ella.
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“I was married for seven years, divorced, lost the plot a bit, went through some ups and downs in mental health, and then I had my daughter in 2014” said Natasha on the Mindkite Podcast.
Despite postpartum depression when she had her first son Josh in 2002, the singer was not prepared for what was to come next.
“When I had my little girl and had a complete breakdown and was under the care of a mental health team, under the care of a psychiatrist,” she said.
“It was then, I was like, ‘We can’t keep doing this Tash. You have to sort out your shit.'”
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Flame-haired Natasha was parachuted into the Atomic Kitten team when she replaced Heidi Range in 1999 – at the age of 16.
Natasha explained that it took a long time for her to “find herself” when she left the group at 22.
“I had grown up in this intense bubble, totally wrapped in cotton for five years, then all of a sudden I got out of that and they’re all doing their thing over there and I’m literally all alone here, saying: ‘I don’t know how to lead a normal life,’ “she explains.
“My whole life was programmed, and all of a sudden I’m like, ‘What am I doing?’
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Natasha left London and returned to the north to settle down with her husband Riad, but that was not the end of her problems.
“I was the breadwinner when it came to being in a relationship with a man,” she said.
“I’ll be the one to take us out, buy stuff and do stuff, which obviously for a young man too, that’s going to piss you off.”
Atomic Kitten briefly reformed in 2012 and several times thereafter until Kerry Katona stepped down again in 2017.
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In 2015, Natasha appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, which saw her come in third place.
In 2019, Natasha decided to achieve her own “independence” by re-enrolling at university.
“I went to beauty school one day a week,” she said.
“I was putting on my tunic. I was studying for the exams and all of a sudden it was like, ‘Ah, that’s who Natasha Hamilton is.’
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“I’m not just Natasha from Atomic Kitten, I’m a woman who wants something else.”
Now a graduate therapist of the unconscious, Natasha has reconciled with her demons after having “given herself a slap”.
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She says, “I really enjoyed a pity party a bit when I look back. It was like, ‘Oh why is this happening to me? This is so bad! ‘
“I had to give myself a little slap and say, ‘Wait a minute, get some balls, take your shit, go!’
Natasha has a son Josh with nightclub owner and original Love Island champion Fran Cosgrave, Harry with dancer Gavin Hatcher, Alfie with businessman Riad Erraji and daughter Ella with Ritchie Neville of Five.
