Exploring the aftermath of leaving a toxic marriage, Melanie "Mel B" Brown shares insights into her life post-divorce from Stephen Belafonte.
Despite parting ways with the alleged abuser, the Spice Girls singer continues to grapple with the lingering impacts of the distressing experience.
Mel B's Courageous Struggle
The 48-year-old singer told People magazine, "I think it's so important to honestly say what happens when you leave abuse because it's not as easy as some people may think."
"For example, my mother would say, 'What's wrong with you? You're fine now. You've left him.' And I'd be going, 'Yeah, but now I've got to pick up the pieces and I've got to deal with the shame and the guilt, and I want to protect my kids."
She went on to say, "And I don't want to block out what happened because I did that for a little bit, and you get PTSD."
"Trauma from abuse never goes. So you need to be able to recognize it, be kind to yourself and just quiet that voice, which you can do."
"You have to just basically say to yourself, 'It's not your fault and he was the problem, not you.' And you just have to heal yourself. And that's going to be a lifetime, a long journey for me."
In a recent candid confession, the "X Factor" judge revealed that while she acknowledges she may never reach complete contentment, she believes she is progressing and possesses the necessary resources to navigate challenging moments.
Mel B and her ex-husband, Belafonte, split in 2016, and their divorce was officially finalized the following year, following their union in 2007.
READ ALSO: Mel B Accidentally Confirms Spice Girls Reunion Tour, Walks Out of 'Today' Interview
In a moment of vulnerability, the "2 Become 1" singer admitted that returning to him seemed like the only option, as his cruel behavior had cut her off from support networks and left her struggling financially.
She confessed that the thought of reaching out to her mother crossed her mind, but the fear of the unknown held her back. "If I walk away, what will I do?"
Against all odds, the "Viva Forever" singer declared she would never walk down the aisle again. However, fate had other plans when she crossed paths with her future husband, Rory McPhee.
The 48-year-old gushed, "He was just there patiently waiting, always there to give me a hair treatment, always there to talk. He's a great listener. And he just became more and more of a friend, and more and more important in my life."
"It'd been a long time that anybody was that kind to me. I wasn't looking for intimacy or anything like that because I was still suffering a lot from PTSD. And he was just patient."
READ MORE: Mel B 'Abusive' Relationship: Spice Girl Had to Move Back With Mom For This Reason
