Married at First Sight UK star says 'I can't live my life with this illness anymore' as she bravely opens up about her addiction

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Married At First Sight UK star Gemma Rose Barnes has bravely opened up about her alcohol addiction to her followers on Instagram.

The hair stylist, who was paired with Matt Murray on last year's series of the E4 matchmaking show which sees couples meet for the first time as they walk up the aisle on their wedding day, has received a flood of support after speaking out.

Speaking into the camera Gemma said she had taken to Instagram "to talk about something incredibly important and that's been affecting my life for a really long time." She explained: "I've been struggling with addiction and it's taken over my life." The mum-of-two feels the coronavirus pandemic was the catalyst for her as she spoke out to raise awareness and help others. "This has been the hardest few years," she said. "I felt covid was biggest catalyst of all my problems." READ MORE: McFly star Tom Fletcher shares health battle after Easter dash to A&E Gemma says she has struggled to get better and has been "very, very poorly" but is now getting help. "Addiction is an illness," she said. "It's a disease and there's so much help available." She explained that her addicton led her to push away friends and family, leaving her isolated and "in a really dark place." Gemma said: "Admitting you have a problem is the first step and for me it's admitting that 'I give up' to the addiction.

I can't live my life with this illness any more. My life has become unmanageable." Gemma said she had previously attempted recovery by herself and had stopped drinking for a few months. "My problem was thinking I could have just one more," she said. "I'm allergic to that lifestyle.