Former Neighbours star Madeleine West has spoken for the first time about her battle with anorexia, after revealing she was the victim of childhood sexual abuse.
Speaking to Stellar magazine this week, the 42-year-old said the trauma of being abused caused her to become obsessed with looking ‘perfect’ – a task that was both ‘punishing’ and never ending.
‘For every sexually abused person, what has happened to them will manifest in their life in some self-destructive behaviour,’ she told the publication.
Former Neighbours star Madeleine West, 42, has spoken for the first time about her battle with anorexia, after revealing she was the victim of childhood sexual abuse
‘They are never, ever to blame. What happened to them is a cross to bear.’
West revealed that in her early teens, not long after the abuse stopped, she developed anorexia as a coping mechanism.
‘My autonomy over my body had been snatched away, so to demonstrate I had some control over it I denied that most simple desire: hunger,’ West explains.
West revealed that in her early teens, not long after the abuse stopped, she developed anorexia as a coping mechanism
‘I just wouldn’t eat, then over-exercised. Pain and hunger made me feel something, because I had become accustomed to operating in a state of utter numbness.’
It comes weeks after the mother-of-six claimed she was regularly abused by a ‘monster’ who lived in the town where she grew up.
She told The Sun of the alleged abuse: ‘This monster ruined my life. I’ve come out the other side, yes a survivor but happy to own the title of victim.
My autonomy over my body had been snatched away, so to demonstrate I had some control over it I denied that most simple desire: hunger,’ West explains
‘Justice can be achieved. It was never, and never will be, your fault, you are not to blame.’
‘I’m now seeking justice. Anyone out there who is posting, watching or hurting a child, your time is up. The wheel is turning.’
She has now launched a new podcast called Predatory to shine the light on the issue of paedophilia along with ex-detective Gary Jubelin.
It comes weeks after the mother-of-six claimed she was regularly abused by a ‘monster’ who lived in the town where she grew up. Pictured: Madeleine as a child
Madeleine reveals in her podcast’s confronting first episode it is extremely difficult for sexual abuse victims to find the courage to speak out.
‘You worry people will see you as deficit. The thing I find disturbing is how little I was,’ she tells her co-host Gary.
In the first episode Madeleine tearfully reveals she was just five-years-old when the abuse started and it lasted for five years.
She has now launched a new podcast called Predatory to shine the light on the issue of paedophilia along with ex-detective Gary Jubelin (right)
She said: ‘I knew from the beginning it wasn’t right. I think everyone does. What’s so concerning is people keep looking away.’
The actress has now gone public with her story after keeping it a secret for decades so she can help others who are suffering.
She claimed she was sexually abused as a child by a ‘monster’ and started the true crime podcast to raise awareness of the difficult issue.
The actress has now gone public with her story after keeping it a secret for decades so she can help others who are suffering
Madeleine has told how the alleged abuser lived in the same town as her and that the abuse was regular – sometimes even daily. She revealed no other details of the attack and has not named the alleged abuser.
She told The Sun of the alleged abuse: ‘This monster ruined my life. I’ve come out the other side, yes a survivor but happy to own the title of victim.
‘Justice can be achieved. It was never, and never will be, your fault, you are not to blame.’
‘I’m now seeking justice. Anyone out there who is posting, watching or hurting a child, your time is up. The wheel is turning.’
The star is also calling for a national public child sex register in Australia and will campaign for changes to laws to fairly compensate victims.
Madeline played Dione ‘Dee’ Bliss and Andrea Somers on the soap on and off from 2000 to 2020 and also starred in the WWE movie The Condemned in 2007.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
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