Malin Andersson has opened up about the domestic abuse she suffered from her ex-boyfriend.
The Love Island star first talked about the abuse last year, displaying the horrific injuries her ‘toxic’ ex had inflicted on her.
And the 27-year-old has now revealed more about the long-lasting affects of the violence on her mental health.
Malin felt like she was ‘in a prison’ during the abusive relationship and now suffers PTSD and had to install CCTV and motion sensors around her house to be able to sleep.
She told the Sun: You just feel helplessness, hopelessness, sadness, depression, anxiety. The emotional abuse stays with you a lot longer than the physical. It takes a long, long time to heal.’
‘It’s horrible because it’s almost like you’re in a prison. I presume that being in lockdown adds to it, because you feel like there’s no escape.’
The reality star lost her baby daughter Consy after she was born seven weeks premature, just a year after her mother Consy-Gloria died of stomach cancer.
Malin said her abuser knew ‘where it hurt’ and would say things about her late mum and daughter.
She explained: ‘You don’t have any worth, you doubt yourself, you second-guess everything, you become apologetic and confused. You almost feel like you’re losing your mind.’
The ITV star said that her ex would give her gifts and compliments at the start of their relationship, but his personality switched later on.
She said he would throw things that were in his hands, like a bottle of water, out of anger.
Malin added that she’d end up forgiving him after the violent outbursts because he would cry and apologise.
Following the relationship, she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and often faces sleepless nights.
Malin has never identified her ex-boyfriend, but he has reportedly always denied her claims, according to The Sun.
She spoke out in the most recent interview in the hopes of raising awareness about domestic abuse in lockdown.
There has been an increase in reports of domestic violence since the nationwide lockdown was implemented.
Domestic violence charity Refuge have reported a 50% rise in calls to its helpline and The Counting Dead Women project identified 16 deaths, including of children, between the day lockdown began (March 23) and April 12.
Who to call if you need help
For emotional support you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline, run by Refuge and Women’s Aid, on 0808 2000 247.
If you are in an LGBT relationship you can also call the helpline run by Broken Rainbow and Galop UK, on 0300 999 5428 or 0800 9995428.
Male victims can call also the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327.
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