Last week former Disney star, Demi Lovato dropped a new single that rocked the internet for different reasons than you’d think. This wasn’t a bop like her past hits Sorry Not Sorry, Cool For The Summer or Tell Me You Love Me.

Her latest single, Sober is played slowly on a piano; her opening verse includes the lyrics, “I got no excuses for all of these goodbyes/ Call me when it’s over ‘cus I’m dying inside,” Lovato sings. “Wake me when the shakes are gone and the cold sweats disappear/ Call me when it’s over and myself has reappeared.”

Lovato had been sober since 2012. The song alludes to the fact she has had a relapse; she may not have known it at the time of its release, but her song is important for many reasons.

A rise to fame and struggle

The 25-year-old first appeared on television back in 2002 on the children’s show Barney & Friends. Her big break came in 2008 when she starred in the Disney Movie Camp Rock alongside the hit boy band, The Jonas Brothers. She continued trending upward releasing her debut album, Don’t Forget, later that year. In 2009 Disney awarded her with the lead role in the hit television series Sonny with a Chance.

In 2010 Lovato made headlines when she left The Jonas Brothers mid-tour to check into a treatment center. Her rep told People, “Demi has decided to take personal responsibility for her actions and seek help,” the rep says. “She is doing just that. Demi and her family ask that the media, please respect their privacy during this difficult time. She regrets not being able to finish her tour, but is looking forward to getting back to work in the near future.”

At the time she checked into rehab for “emotional and physical issues,” but it was later revealed that the singer entered a rehab facility to seek treatment for several issues, including depression, self-harm, bulimia, and substance abuse. After completing three months of residential treatment, she decided to leave her Disney show to focus on her music career. In 2016 it was announced that she had become a co-owner of the rehab center where she received treatment. “It sounds ridiculous but, like, I kind of made a pact with God. And I don’t even think you’re supposed to do that, but I was, like, I promised, ‘If you make me a singer one day, I’m going to use my voice for so much more than singing, and I’m going to help people with it,” Lovato told CBS’s, Tracy Smith.

Lovato has used her voice for so much more than just singing, she has been very candid about her treatment. She has since released a documentary on YouTube which revealed her battles with addiction, recovery and relapsing into bulimia.

This past March, Lovato celebrated six years sober by posting a tweet and sharing the joyous news at one of her concerts. “Six years ago, I was drinking vodka out of a Sprite bottle at 9 in the morning, throwing up in the car,” Lovato said. “So, I took a look at my life and I said, ‘Something has to change, I’ve got to get sober.’ So, I did. Thank you for being a part of saving my life. I love you guys,” she added before performing the song Warriors.

Why sharing is important

She told US Weekly in September that it wasn’t easy staying sober, “Every day is a battle. Some days are easier than others and some days, you forget about drinking and using. I work on my physical health, which is important. But my mental health as well; I see a therapist twice a week, I make sure I stay on my medications, I go to AA meetings, I do what I can physically in the gym, you know, I make it a priority.”

She sings to her fans: “I’m sorry for the fans I lost/ Who watched me fall again/ I wanna be a role model/ But I’m only human.” At the end of the song she says that she will seek help, “I’m sorry that I’m here again, I promise I’ll get help/It wasn’t my intention, I’m sorry to myself.”

Lovato has been very fluid about her life, so it came as no surprise to her fans that she was being transparent. The heartbreaking ballad provides hope and support to those that are struggling with their sobriety and sparked a conversation about addiction and that being sober doesn’t end the struggle. People have poured their support for the singer, their tweets have quickly gone viral:

https://twitter.com/karmataizia/status/1009817314949246981

Are you struggling with sobriety? There are many resources available throughout Canada to help those that are dealing with substance abuse and sobriety.