Katie Piper has shared a powerful post on Instagram for Mental Health Awareness Day that reveals the extent of the facial injuries she suffered following an acid attack in 2008.
On Thursday, the Strictly Come Dancing star posted a photograph of herself shortly after the brutal attack and explained the psychological toll it took on her in a caption below.
“I remember when I didn’t want to look at anyone,” Piper wrote. “I remember when I didn’t want anyone to look at me. I remember when I was scared of people, scared of men.
“I remember when I was scared of the world. I remember when opening up to people and talking about my trauma and psychological damage just wasn’t possibly [sic].”
Piper went on to explain how her first meeting of the day is with her therapist.
“I still go, it still helps and I’m able to talk,” the 35-year-old added before concluding her caption by writing: “Hold on, pain ends.”
Piper’s post has been liked more than 73,070 times and garnered hundreds of comments from her 896,000 followers.
Broadcaster and former Strictly Come Dancing winner Stacey Dooley commented “My hero” while author Matt Haig posted a series of love heart emojis in support.
Meanwhile, former The Only Way is Essex star Maria Fowler wrote: "Oh babe so sad to see you like that. You’re an inspiration to so many people. So much respect."
Piper's attacker, Stefan Sylvestre, was given a life sentence in 2009 but was released from jail in Suffolk in October 2018. It was revealed that the Parole Board had directed Sylvestre's release following an oral hearing.
At the time, Piper issued a statement saying she was going through "a really difficult time".
