Chircop said she no longer feels she is the same person she was 20 years ago, changed as she was by life and pain.

“Life and pain change you. I went through a lot of bitter experiences but I was always conscious of the fact that I am loved,” she said.

“Dance, creativity and sport give me life, medicine helped me cope. In life you make the wrong decisions because of the need to fill up the emptiness.”

Chircop advised people not to take too much heed of people’s critical words, to seek professional help when necessary and not to sweep problems under the rug.

“I am a very spiritual person. I believe that we are made from emotional, spiritual and physical aspects,” she said.

“These need to be kept in a holistic balance. The best version of yourself lies when these three are kept in harmony. Wounds will always be there, even though they might not hurt when you touch them, they are still present and serve as a reminder of where you were and where you have arrived today. A stronger person.”

Chircop is currently performing an extremely personal concert at the St Agatha Auditorium in Rabat, in which she is singing 21 songs about her life story, with the help of musicians David Sammut, Christian Borg, Ryan Peter Portelli, Anthony Saliba (Il-Fesu) and Karl Galea), with each song dedicated to people who had an impact in her life.

“There were people in my life who were sent like angels from heaven, people who save you when you are drowning,” she said. “It’s going to be very emotional for me.”

If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone about difficult situations, substance abuse or mental health, you can call the National Mental Health Helpline on 1770, or call Appogg on 179. Alternatively, you can use the 24/7 chat service OLLI Chat or visit www.kellimni.com to get in touch online.