The Insider.com

While it's no secret that Demi Lovato has struggled with emotional and physical issues, she has generally shied away from giving any specifics. But in the August issue of Self magazine, the former Disney darling and new X Factor judge gets uncharacteristically candid about cutting.

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"There were times I felt so anxious, almost like I was crawling out of my skin – that if I didn't do something physical to match the way I felt inside, I would explode," she tells the magazine. "I cut myself to take my mind off that. I just didn't care what happened. I had no fear."

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Eventually, Lovato dropped out of the Jonas Brothers tour and checked into a treatment center in November of 2010.

These days, Demi has turned to much healthier methods to cope with her emotions.

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"I make time for myself and meditate," she says. "I've spent the past two years getting over an eating disorder and issues like self-harming and bipolar disorder. I have to work on this stuff every day. I'm reminded of that whenever I eat or feel down."