Jamelia and Janet Street Porter speak about dealing with domestic abuse on Loose Women

LOOSE Women panellists Jamelia and Janet Street Porter have opened up about their personal experiences of domestic violence during the launch of the show's new campaign.

Jamelia and Janet Street Porter open up about domestic abuse on Loose WomenJamelia opene dup about her experience with domestic abuse on today's Loose Women[ITV]

The pair both bravely spoke of their harrowing experiences on the show earlier today, with Jamelia admitting that she was afraid she was going to lose her life.

The former pop star, who said she was keen to tell of her experiences to prove to women in a similar position that they are not alone, appeared visibly moved as she spoke of her experience over ten years ago.

"It is still the hardest thing to talk about," she said tot he live audience and fellow panellists.

Jamelia and Janet Street Porter open up about domestic abuse on Loose WomenThe star was talking about her experiences for the launch of the show's Domestic Violence Campaign [ITV]

"The thing with domestic abuse is it's something yo never get over. You can come to terms with it and forgive but the scars will always remain.

She added: "For me, the best thing I could have ever done wa to share my story - the best thing I could do was let other women know that they are not along because that's exactly how I felt.

"I felt as if no one would understand, no one would get it. I couldn't tell any one I felt so embarrassed."

The star went on to reveal that it wasn't until she released her single Thank You that she realised she wan't alone.

"After releasing the song and getting hundreds and hundreds of letters - from women and people affected by domestic abuse - that was the first time that I felt - this is not only me, I'm not the only person in this situation," she said.

"What alarmed me more than anything was the amount of people that had. If I had known I would have reached out for help earlier.

Jamelia and Janet Street Porter open up about domestic abuse on Loose WomenJanet Street Porter also opened up about her experiences [ITV]

"I felt as if no one would understand, no one would get it. I couldn't tell any one I felt so embarrassed."

Jamelia

And speaking to Kaye Adams about why she remained silent on her situation for son long, she said: "I think there are a multitude of factors. One, I was young. Two, it didn't happen until a a year into the relationship and by that time I was in love and that was my reason.

"I absolutely loved him and I believed he loved me."

And speaking about the type of abuse she experienced, she said: "It is very difficult to say aloud.

"You also have to understand that this was whilst I was enjoying a career and i would be on Top Of The Pops one minute and then I would be going home and getting punched in the face.

Jamelia and Janet Street Porter open up about domestic abuse on Loose WomenJamelia said she left her abusive relationship when her daughter was four weeks old [ITV]

"I am sorry if that's a bit shocking but that was my reality."

She added: "There are many women who have that reality who have this public life, this public performance and how embarrassing is it, I'm an intelligent, strong woman and I know right from wrong."

Asked by Coleen Nolan whether she was embarrassed about letting people know what she was going through, Jameila said: "Absolutely."

Agreeing with Jamelia was Janet Street Porter, who said she had a similar experience.

"The word embarrassing, it resonates with me and mirrors what happened to me. I was in a relationship with someone a lot younger than me and i realised pretty soon I'd made a dreadful mistake," she said.

"It was like I was addicted to this person, it is an addiction. They have inhabited your brain. They have taken over a highly intelligent woman's brain and they are inside it like a virus and you can't get them out.

"It was psychological bullying that I really experienced and it would come on without any warning and it would be completely irrational.

Jamelia and Janet Street Porter open up about domestic abuse on Loose WomenThe pair were visibly upset as they recalled their harrowing memories [ITV]

She added: "You accept it as normal and a day later they are acting like nothing has happened. That is the hallmark of abuse and what I would call psychological, extreme bullying.

"You would say to them the next day 'why did you do that?' and they'd say 'do what?'

"I've had a lot of experience of men saying what did I do? It's all your fault. They have got inside your head and it's your fault because you're difficult to live with, you're too intelligent, you're a workaholic."

She added: "I was in this situation where the police were called, now looking back on it, I can't believe it happened to me, it's like a black period of my life and I don't know what happened, I can't explain it.

"I agree completely with Jamelia. You are too embarrassed to tell anyone. I left my own house at one stage, I moved out of my own house."

Jamelia went on to reveal what made her leave her relationship, admitting it was when her daughter was born.

"For me, it was when my daughter was four weeks old and he hit me when I was breastfeeding her. It was at that point that I realised that being in a relationship is a choice and I am choosing this and I am going to continue to choose this on behalf of my child.

"As scared as I was, I was completely fearful of being killed and I thought I'd much rather leave and risk him killing me, than stay with him and have my daughter watch him slowly kill me anyway."

Appearing on the show, Chief Executive of Refuge Sandra Horley, CBE said: "Domestic violence has been around for centuries.

"One woman in three is physically abused or abused domestically it's a major social problem. It's a crime.

"Domestic violence is a choice a man makes and he alone is responsible. He's responsible for the abuse and he's responsible for chaining his behaviour."

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