Demi Lovato opens up about her recovery in MTV special

Demi Lovato plans to share her personal battle with fans on MTV. Picture: Supplied Source: The Sunday Telegraph

Former Disney star Demi Lovato will discuss her recovery from an emotional breakdown in an upcoming MTV special Demi Lovato: Stay Strong.

In October 2010, Lovato had a blowup with a back-up dancer while on tour with the Jonas Brothers - forcing her to leave the tour to get help for "emotional issues" that included an eating disorder, cutting and bipolar disorder.

She spent three months at the Timberline Knolls facility in Illinois and launched a comeback in the summer of 2011, releasing her third album Unbroken.

"I wanted to share my story but I knew it had to be honest, it had to be real," the former Sonny with a Chance star said in a statement about the new documentary.

"I'm not fixed. This is a daily battle but I continue to work my butt off because now I want to be a legitimate role model, the 19-year-old said in a preview.

The cable special, Stay Strong, references the tattoos Lovato now bears on her wrists. The poster for the program shows Lovato modeling her body ink but scars from her former days of cutting are still visible.