Former Neighbors star Madeleine West has opened up about her battle with anorexia for the first time, after revealing she was sexually abused as a child.
Speaking to Stellar magazine this week, the 42-year-old said the trauma of being abused had made her obsessed with looking ‘perfect’ – a task that was both ‘punishing’ and endless.
“For every person who has been sexually abused, what happened to them will manifest in their lives as self-destructive behavior,” she told the publication.
Former Neighbors star Madeleine West, 42, has opened up about her battle with anorexia for the first time, after revealing she was sexually abused as a child
“They are never, ever to blame. What happened to them is a cross to bear.
West revealed that in her early teens, shortly after the abuse stopped, she developed anorexia as a coping mechanism.
“My autonomy over my body had been ripped away from me, so to demonstrate that I had some control over it, I denied that simplest desire: hunger,” West explains.
West revealed that in her early teens, shortly after the abuse stopped, she developed anorexia as a coping mechanism.
“I just didn’t want to eat, and then I exercised too much. The pain and the hunger made me feel something, because I had grown accustomed to operating in a state of absolute 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 came out the other side, yes a survivor but happy to own the title of victim.
My autonomy over my body had been ripped away, so to demonstrate that I had some control over it, I denied that simplest desire: hunger,” West explains.
“Justice can be done. It was never and never will be your fault, you are not to blame.
“I now demand justice. Anyone who posts, monitors or hurts a child, your time is up. The wheel spins.
She has now launched a new podcast called Predatory to shed light on the issue of pedophilia 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 the first episode of her podcast that it is extremely difficult for victims of sexual abuse to find the courage to speak out.
“You worry that people will see you as a deficit. What I find disturbing is how small I was,’ she told her co-host Gary.
In the first episode, Madeleine tearfully reveals that she was only five years old when the abuse began and it lasted for five years.
She has now launched a new podcast called Predatory to shed light on the issue of pedophilia with ex-detective Gary Jubelin (right)
She said, “I knew from the start that it wasn’t right. I think everyone does. What’s so disturbing is that 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 hurting.
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 hurting
Madeleine recounted how the alleged abuser lived in the same town as her and the abuse was regular – sometimes even daily. She did not reveal any other details of the attack and did not name the alleged attacker.
She told The Sun of the alleged abuse: “This monster ruined my life. I came out the other side, yes a survivor but happy to own the title of victim.
“Justice can be done. It was never and never will be your fault, you are not to blame.
“I now demand justice. Anyone who posts, monitors or hurts a child, your time is up. The wheel spins.
The star is also calling for a national public child sex registry in Australia and will campaign for changes to laws to fairly compensate victims.
Madeline played Dione ‘Dee’ Bliss and Andrea Somers on the soap opera from 2000 to 2020 and also starred in the 2007 WWE film The Condemned.
If you or someone you know needs help you can contact Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
