AceShowbiz - Demi Lovato, the multi-talented actor and musician who identifies with she/they pronouns, has long been open about their tumultuous journey with fame. In her latest documentary "Child Star," which she co-directed with Nicola Marsh, Lovato addresses explosive moments in her past that stem from the negative ramifications of early fame on her mental health.

"I didn't realize that it would have such a negative impact on my mental health," Lovato, 32, shares. "And unfortunately, sometimes that looks explosive, like an incident where you punch your backup dancer on an airplane or you overdose from heroin."

Lovato's candid confessions reference two major incidents: a 2010 altercation with dancer Alex Welch on The Jonas Brothers tour, which led to her first stint in rehab, and a near-fatal heroin overdose in 2018 that left her with three strokes and a heart attack. Working on "Child Star" presented Lovato with an opportunity to mend bridges and apologize for her past behavior.

"Talking to people who knew me at a different time in my life was challenging because I wanted to apologize for my behavior," Lovato admits. "I wasn't the nicest person to work with at times because I was struggling so much internally, and I was under a lot of pressure." She found solace and healing in these conversations, particularly with fellow stars Raven-Symone and Alyson Stoner.

The documentary not only touches on Lovato's personal battles with addiction and mental health, but it also delves into her struggles with body image that began in her teens. "Being on camera makes a lot of my body issues come up and when I'm on camera I'm hyper-aware of that. It just makes me a little uncomfortable," Lovato reveals.

Growing up under the constant scrutiny of the public eye exacerbated her issues with bulimia, self-harm, and addiction. The pressures of fame and beauty expectations fed into her unhealthy relationship with food and body image, contributing to her mental health struggles.

Lovato has faced severe bullying during her childhood, which further deteriorated her self-esteem and mental health. "The bullying started. The popular girls started writing in the bathrooms, 'Demi is a w***e.' All these nasty things," she says in her documentary.

This harsh treatment led to issues with self-esteem and eventually eating disorders and self-harm. Over the years, Lovato has emerged as an advocate for mental health, using her platform to raise awareness about bullying and the importance of seeking help. "I wanted to help others," she expresses.

"Child Star," released on September 17, features an array of interviews with past and present child stars like Drew Barrymore, JoJo Siwa, Kenan Thompson, Raven-Symoné, Christina Ricci, and Alyson Stoner, reflecting on their own experiences with early fame. Through "Child Star," Lovato hopes to offer support and a sense of solidarity to those facing similar struggles.