Things Really Got Bad
R&B star Ginuwine grew so depressed following the death of both of his parents, he turned to drink and drugs and attempted suicide on more than one occasion.
The Pony hitmaker, real name Elgin Lumpkin, suffered the traumatic loss of his mum and dad in the space of just months between 1999 and 2000.
The singer struggled to deal with the tragedy and relied heavily on alcohol and recreational drugs to get him through each day - but when Ginuwine was at his lowest point, he reveals he tried to take his own life.
In a candid interview, he says, "After my father shot himself to death and my mother died from cancer less than a year later, I really didn't want to be here anymore, I didn't want to live and tried to commit suicide more than once. ...I turned to drinking and drugs like weed and ecstasy. I was done mentally and emotionally to the point that I had to go see a psychiatrist, but that didn't do any good because I wasn't interested... I was depressed and felt like I had nobody to talk to that could relate to me."
But Ginuwine has one close pal to thank for helping him get back on the road to recovery - and he has been sober ever since. He adds, "I had one friend who intervened and begged me to get help. Even though I didn't continue with my therapy, I went to church and received counselling from my pastor and got straight spiritually.
"I was able to turn away from all those things that were destroying me and finally think clearly. I had to ask myself whether or not I wanted to go out like my dad and have my kids hurt the way I was hurting. I've been clean for about seven years. Now, I keep all that stuff away from me, especially when I'm on the road."
The star is now happily married to rapper Tonya 'Sole' Johnston, with whom has two children, daughters Dream and Story. He also has a child from a former relationship.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison