Natasha Hamilton has candidly spoken about how she suffered a ‘full mental breakdown’ after giving birth to her fourth child.
The former Atomic Kitten star, 38, revealed she ended up in psychiatric care shortly after welcoming her daughter Ella in 2014.
Natasha said she felt like she had ‘lost the plot’ following her divorce from her husband Riad Erraji and went through a series of ‘mental ups and downs’.
Honest: Natasha Hamilton has candidly spoken about how she suffered a ‘full mental breakdown’ after giving birth to her fourth child
Speaking on the Mindkite Podcast, she said: ‘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 shares son Josh, 18, with celebrity bodyguard Fran Cosgrave, Harry, 16, with actor Gavin Hatcher, Alfie, 10, with Riad, and Ella, seven, with boyband star Ritchie Neville. She split from Ritchie in 2016.
Natasha previously suffered post-natal depression following the birth of her son Josh in 2002, but admitted it was nothing compared to her subsequent experience.
She explained: ‘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.
Mother daughter: The former Atomic Kitten star, 38, revealed she ended up in psychiatric care shortly after welcoming her daughter in Ella in 2014 (pictured recently)
Family: Natasha shares son Josh, 18, with celebrity bodyguard Fran Cosgrave, Harry, 16, with actor Gavin Hatcher, Alfie, 10, with Riad, and Ella, seven, with boyband star Ritchie Neville. She split from Ritchie in 2016
‘It was then, I was just like, ‘We can’t keep doing this Tash. You need to sort your s*** out.’
Natasha, who joined Atomic Kitten in 1999 at age 16, explained it took her a while to adjust to life after the band when she quit six years later.
She said: ‘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.
‘My whole life was scheduled, and all of a sudden I’m like, “What do I do?”‘
Girl band: Natasha, who joined Atomic Kitten in 1999 at age 16, explained it took her a while to adjust to life after the band when she quit six years later
After quitting the band, Natasha moved up north to live with her then-husband Riad.
However the singer admitted they struggled to come to terms with the fact that she was the main breadwinner in their relationship.
She said: ‘I was the breadwinner when it came to being in a relationship with a guy. 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.’
Since then, Atomic Kitten have reunited on several occasions and Natasha appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.
Former flame: Natasha said she felt like she had ‘lost the plot’ following her divorce from her husband Riad Erraji (pictured) and went through a series of ‘mental ups and downs’
In 2019 Natasha enrolled in beauty college as she took a different career path following her time in the spotlight.
‘I went to beauty school one day a week. 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.’
Also reflecting on how her mindset has changed, Natasha said: ‘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!”‘
Ventures: Since then, Atomic Kitten have reunited on several occasions and Natasha appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015 (pictured)
Several years ago, she hit back at trolls who branded her ‘4X4’ – someone who shares four children with four different men.
‘I do get people saying nasty things because my children have different dads,’ Natasha told The Mirror. ‘But I feel I would have been a worse mum staying in relationships that were detrimental to me and my children’s happiness.
‘Sometimes you have to walk away. I stand by all my decisions and feel I made the right ones.
‘They can hear negative things and sometimes other children can be cruel. I say to them, “Don’t take it in, people will say nasty things because they want to hurt you but it’s just words”.
Setting the record straight: Natasha Hamilton, 36, revealed why she’s yet to tie the knot with fiancé of two years Charles Gay, 33, in an exclusive chat with Mail Online
‘They know what’s happened in my life. I don’t keep secrets from them and I think now Josh and Harry are a little older, they’re starting to understand some of the tough positions I’ve ended up in.’
‘I feel I’ve lived a million lives. Is it what I wanted out of my life? No, of course not. But I have my lovely sons and now a daughter and you just have to stop dragging the baggage of the past around with you and move on.’
In 2019, Natasha told MailOnline that she doesn’t have plans to welcome a fifth child into the world with her fiancé Charles Gay. In the midst of planning their wedding at the time, she said: ‘We can’t try to shoehorn a baby in – and the wedding – we’re not in a rush. Do what we’re doing, we’re enjoying our lives together as a family.’
The couple celebrated their five year anniversary of being together last month.
No comeback: The singer, who was part of girlband Atomic Kitten, later revealed that while she tours with her bandmate Liz McClarnon there are no plans for the band to reform