Lily Allen recently took time away to focus on her mental health, prioritizing her well-being for the sake of her children.
The Smile singer, 39, who was rumored to have separated from her husband, actor David Harbour, temporarily stepped back from her podcast to take a much-needed mental health break. Now, she’s sharing details about her experience.
Returning to her podcast Miss Me? alongside co-host Miquita Oliver after a month-long hiatus, Allen candidly reflected on her journey.
“I spent a few weeks at a treatment center, and it was a really valuable experience,” she revealed. “I did a lot of group therapy, individual therapy, and deep work on my inner child. It was challenging, but I needed that space to step away from everything and focus on healing.”
Acknowledging that emotional growth is an ongoing process, she added, “This isn’t something that gets fixed overnight. Healing is a lifelong journey.”
A Mother’s Motivation
Allen, who shares daughters Ethel, 13, and Marnie, 11, with her ex-husband Sam Cooper, credited her children as her driving force in seeking help.
“People assume I don’t care about my kids, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” she said. “I love them deeply, and I realized I needed to be my strongest self for them.”
She admitted that keeping up with her responsibilities as a mother was becoming increasingly difficult.
“I felt like it was getting harder and harder to show up for them in the way they deserve. It was a tough decision to leave them for a few weeks, but ultimately, I did it for them. I needed help to navigate this phase so I could be there for them fully.”
While she acknowledges she’s still a work in progress, she feels she’s in a much better place.
“None of this is their fault,” she emphasized. “It’s my responsibility to support them and make sure they feel safe and secure. I wasn’t in the right emotional state to do that before, but now, I feel like I am. I’m not saying I’ve got it all figured out or that I ever will, but I’m definitely stronger than I was.”
Shutting Down Relapse Speculation
Before stepping away, Allen—who has been sober for five years—was quick to dismiss speculation that she had relapsed.
“Given the time I was taking off, I knew people would assume I was going to rehab for addiction, but that’s not the case,” she clarified. “I haven’t relapsed.”
Since returning, she has embraced meditation, practicing it “at least two or three times a day” as part of her ongoing commitment to self-care.
Allen’s openness about her mental health journey highlights the importance of prioritizing well-being—not just for oneself, but for those who depend on us most.
