Kerry Katona's devastating reason for having kids' names tattooed after childhood trauma
Kerry Katona says her earliest memory is of her mother self-harming, and that her split from Brian McFadden led to a "meltdown" that made her fear for her own children
Kerry Katona has revealed the heart-breaking reason why she has her daughters' names tattooed on her wrists.
The former Atomic Kitten star says she made the decision to get Molly and Lily’s names inked onto her skin after having a “breakdown” following her split from ex-husband Brian McFadden. She says the family had to relocate from Dublin to England after the divorce.
Kerry, however, says this meant they were staying with her mother, something which resulted in her starting to use drugs again. The 43-year-old admits she “wasn’t coping” after the split and was seeking validation from people around her.
READ MORE:Westlife now - health woes, eye-watering debts and Brian McFadden 'snub'
Speaking on the Exhibit A podcast with Abbey Clancy, she said: “I got 40 or 50 paparazzi following me constantly, I've got these two babies to look [after], I wasn’t coping. No one wanted to help me and all everyone wanted was money and I was just paying them because I wanted to be loved.”
Kerry, who says her mother had "a lot of mental health issues" claims her first memory is "watching my mum slit her wrists". The star says her mum's struggles meant she was put in foster care aged 13 and bounced around families for a while, living with four sets of foster parents.
She says it left her worried she "wasn't good enough" for her mum. While Kerry herself has been open about her own battles with mental health - having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder - she was keen for her daughters not to remember her in the same way she does her own mother.
She added: “I remember I got used to looking at Lily, because Lily looks so much like me, and I used to think, I remember sitting in rehab and I couldn't believe I let myself get so low and I kept thinking if this is in my DNA and if it is a genetic thing and the one thing I never want my kids to feel is unloved or unwanted by me, because that’s how I felt.
“So I thought, if this is something I might end up doing, I got Molly and Lily tattooed on my wrists because I thought I would be so selfish to put my kids through that. No matter what's going on in my life, I want my kids to know I love them so much and I'm never going to leave them.
“So that’s why I got that on my wrists. And I think that’s something I struggle with now even.”
As well as opening up about her mental health issues, Kerry has documented her struggles with addiction, previously confessing she had been to rehab for both cocaine and alcohol issues. She recently revealed she underwent surgery on her nostrils to repair the damage caused by her previous drug misuse, marking 15 years of sobriety.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can isit their site to find your local branch.
Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
