Alicya Eyo opened up about her struggles since leaving Emmerdale (Image: No credit)Emmerdale spoilers, news and interviews sent straight to your inbox for freeMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Emmerdale spoilers, news and interviews sent straight to your inbox for freeInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeFormer Emmerdale actress Alicya Eyo bravely opened up about her personal struggle with alcoholism following her departure from the beloved ITV soap. Best known for playing Ruby Haswell on Emmerdale from 2011 to 2015, Alicya’s found herself grappling with a series of challenges after leaving the show, including a relationship breakdown and a growing dependency on alcohol. During an intimate chat on the Soap From the Box Podcast, Alicya candidly shared her journey to sobriety, revealing that her life hit rock bottom post-Emmerdale. She confessed: “In 2017 I got to a point in my life, having left Emmerdale, a relationship breakdown, I basically turned to alcohol, which wasn’t great.”
Alicya played Ruby Haswell on the soap from 2011 to 2015
(Image: No credit)
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The situation escalated until Alicya lost everything, including her sense of self. She checked into Transforming Choice in Liverpool, a rehab centre that she credits with saving her life. Alicya recounted: “So I ended up losing everything, including myself. That was the main thing. So I went to a rehab called Transforming Choice in Liverpool which is the most amazing place. They helped me figure out why I was doing what I was doing,” reports the Mirror. The actress also touched on the fear and trepidation she felt about seeking help, especially given her public profile. She admitted: “It was the best and the worst three months of my life, if I’m being honest. I was a bit scared of going to rehab and people knowing who I am. “I think that’s why I put it off, and I did put it off for quite a long time simply for that reason. That people would recognise me and judge me. But actually the facility I went to there was no judgement whatsoever. It was brilliant. They made me openly talk about it and feel ok about it.”
The star ‘learnt so much about herself’ in rehab
(Image: Can Nguyen/REX/Shutterstock)
She also shared how the pandemic exacerbated her struggles, particularly the second lockdown. She said: “I learnt so much about myself in rehab, it was amazing and I spent a good few years sober and then this hit. I just found it so hard. If you have mental health issues initially then lockdown just heightens things.” She encouraged others to be open about their struggles and seek assistance, concluding with a heartfelt plea: “The thing is, people need to speak about it more. Get help, that’s it, get help. I think people are maybe suffering now when they weren’t before, so if you are suffering, please reach out.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnEmmerdale
