Jessica Simpson is not holding back in her new memoir, Open Book. The 39-year-old singer just revealed that she took diet pills for 20 years after she was told to lose weight as a teenager, per People.

She says it all started after she auditioned for Tommy Mottola at Columbia Records on her 17th birthday. After belting Amazing Grace, the music executive offered her a contract, but under one condition: You gotta lose 15 pounds. Thats what it will take to be Jessica Simpson, he said.

Simpson, who weighed 118 pounds at the time, immediately went on an extremely strict diet and started taking diet pills, which she would take for the next 20 years. I started to hear voices when I was alone at night, waiting for the sleeping pill to kick in Do more sit-ups, fat ass.

The pressure only continued to grow as she became more successful in her career. We all see our flaws, and mine were just there for the world to rip apart. They werent even flaws! They were made into flaws that I didnt even know I had, Simpson told People. Its insane what can make a headline.

The mother of three also revealed in her memoir that she suffered from sexual abuse as a child, which she kept to herself for years. Simpson developed anxiety from the trauma and began to self-medicate with alcohol and stimulants. I was killing myself with all the drinking and pills, she wrote.

In 2017, she had a wake-up call and immediately became sober. The star hasnt had a sip of alcohol since. When I finally said I needed help, it was like I was that little girl that found her calling again in life, she told People. I found direction and that was to walk straight ahead with no fear.

Jessica Simpson Opens About Battle With Addiction

Today, she uses exercise as a way to cope with stress. When I work out, a lot of it is to release anxietythats one of my tools for sobriety, she told the outlet. Just going walking and talking with my husband.

I just thank God that times are changing and people are standing up for themselves and not making it about body image, she added. I hope I can be part of that change and that my daughters will grow up in a world where they can accept themselves at any size.

Like what you just read? Youll love our magazine! Go here to subscribe. Dont miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and following Prevention. Oh, and were on Instagram too.

See original here:
Jessica Simpson Took Diet Pills for 20 Years After Being Told to Lose Weight As a Teen - Prevention.com