Spice Girls singer Mel B has revealed she is to seek therapy after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The singer, real name Melanie Brown, has admitted she turned to alcohol to “numb the pain” of revisiting traumatic stories from her marriage to former husband Stephen Belafonte for her upcoming book.

Brown, 43, told The Sun on Sunday: “The past six months have been incredibly difficult for me.

“I’ve been working with a writer on my book, Brutally Honest, and it has been unbelievably traumatic reliving an emotionally abusive relationship and confronting so many massive issues in my life.

Mel B and ex-husband Stephen Belafonte Melanie Brown finalised her divorce from Stephen Belafonte earlier in August (Ian West/PA)

“I am being very honest about drinking to numb my pain but that is just a way a lot of people mask what is really going on.

“Sometimes it is too hard to cope with all the emotions I feel. But the problem has never been about sex or alcohol — it is underneath all that.

“I am fully aware I have been at a crisis point. No-one knows myself better than I do – but I am dealing with it.

“I have made the decision to go into a proper therapy programme in the next few weeks, but it has to be in the UK because I am very, very British and I know that will work best for me.”

Brown finalised her divorce from Belafonte earlier this month.

A judge in Los Angeles ordered Brown to pay 350,000 dollars (£270,000) of her ex-husband’s legal fees and she must also pay him 5,000 dollars (£3,800) a month in child support for their six-year-old daughter Madison.

During the case the mother-of-three alleged Belafonte was physically and emotionally abusive to her and her children during their almost 10-year marriage.

Belafonte accused Brown of turning his stepdaughter Angel, 10, against him.

Angel’s father is the comedian Eddie Murphy.

Brown said her PTSD diagnosis was helping her to address her issues.

She said: “I am still struggling but if I can shine a light on the issue of pain, PTSD and the things men and women do to mask it, I will do.

“I am speaking about this because this is a huge issue for so many people.”

Brown added: “I’m not perfect, and I have never pretended to be.

“But I am working on being a better version of myself for my kids – whom I love more than life itself – and for all the people who have supported me.”