Demi Lovato Speaks Out About Depression, Cutting, Eating Disorders & Her Cry For Help

After completing treatment at a rehab facility, teen star Demi Lovato has finally spoken about the painful struggles that spurred her to seek help.

“I basically had a nervous breakdown. I was really bad off,” Demi told Seventeen Magazine in an interview for their May issue. “My parents and my manager pulled me aside and said, ‘You need to get some help.’ It was an intervention. I wanted freedom from the inner demons. I wanted to start my life over.”

The “Sonny with a Chance” star admitted to the teen mag to cutting herself, as well as to battling an eating disorder and bouts of depression.

Demi’s struggles came to a head in early November, when she allegedly punched Alex Welch (a dancer on her tour with the Jonas Brothers) – an action she deeply regrets.

“Lashing out was my cry for help,” she told the mag. “Wow, who was I to do that? I’m very ashamed. I wasn’t in the right state of mind at all.”

Many of the 18-year-old Disney star’s deep-rooted insecurities stemmed from an overwhelming desire to be “perfect,” and to “work harder” than everyone else, which she said caused her to push herself to dangerous limits – including performing after she had passed out backstage at a concert.

“There were times when I thought, ‘I don’t know if I actually want help because my eating disorders are my best friend,’” she told the mag. “Looking back on it, I just want to cradle my old self up and hold her and tell her that it doesn’t have to be this way.”

Having completed treatment, Demi said that she is back — better than ever — and ready to help young girls who may be silently struggling with the same issues.

The teen is partnering with Seventeen and The Jed Foundation for the “Love is Louder Than the Pressure to be Perfect” project. In addition to the campaign, Demi has signed on as a contributing editor for Seventeen and will write for the teen mag twice a month.

“My fans have been such an incredible support system for me — I hope I can repay this and help other girls learn from my experiences,” she told the mag.