Lady Gaga has revealed she used to self-harm for a "long time."
The 33-year-old singer has revealed she used to self-harm as that was the only way to tell people that she was in "pain" but she eventually realised that talking to people about her emotions stopped her from intentionally injuring herself.
Speaking to Oprah Winfrey in an interview for ELLE magazine, she said: "I've actually not opened up very much about this, but I think it's an important thing for people to know and hear: I was a cutter for a long time, and the only way that I was able to stop cutting and self-harming myself was to realise that what I was doing was trying to show people that I was in pain instead of telling them and asking for help. When I realised that telling someone, 'Hey, I am having an urge to hurt myself,' that defused it.
I then had someone next to me saying, 'You don't have to show me. Just tell me: What are you feeling right now?' And then I could just tell my story. I say that with a lot of humility and strength; I'm very grateful that I don't do it anymore, and I wish to not glamourise it."
The 'Shallow' hitmaker has advised any fans who suffer with similar issues to plunge their hands into a bowl of cold water because it blocks the unwanted thoughts.
