Lynne Spears tells of her heartache over pop princess daughter Britney's two years of hell

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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The standing ovation she received at last week's glittering MTV awards show celebrated a remarkable transformation for Britney Spears.

But for one person in the audience, it was especially heartrending as she finally realised the daughter she loved was back.

In her new book Through The Storm, Lynne Spears tells of the two-year nightmare her troubled daughter went through as her life spiralled out of control and saw her end up in a psychiatric hospital.

Pop princess: A glowing Britney picks up one of her awards at last week's MTV Video Music Awards

Pop princess: A glowing Britney picks up one of her awards at last week's MTV Video Music Awards

She told the News of the World: 'I looked at her on stage and realised I finally had her back.

'I saw the Britney we remember and love - not the girl I had seen strapped to a stretcher being wheeled into a psychiatric hospital - and tears of relief filled my eyes.'

The pop princess picked up the best video, best pop video and best female video at the MTV Video Music Awards last week.

Reconciled: Lynne Spears has written a book about her daughter's ordeal

Reconciled: Lynne Spears has written a book about her daughter's ordeal

It was a stark contrast to her last appearance at the awards in 2007, where she stumbled glass-eyed through her latest single in what many thought was the end of her career.

At the time, Britney was facing divorce from her husband Kevin Federline and stood to lose her two sons Preston and Jayden.

Lynne, 53, believes her daughter's problems began when she suffered post-natal depression after the birth of her first child, Preston.

She said: 'Having two children within a year of each other would be overwhelming for any woman. She had post-natal depression.

'Added to her broken-hearted spirit over the end of her marriage to Kevin and the enormous pressures of her career, it brought her to breaking point.'

Britney's suitability as a mother came under the spotlight after she was pictured driving with Preston on her lap.

She also famously shaved off her trademark blonde locks.

Her shocked mum says she was cut out of Britney's life after trying to get her into rehab and even changed her mobile phone number to stop her calling.

Lynne told the News of the World: 'It was hard for me to believe this much-loved daughter was enduring such pain and I couldn't be there to help her heal.'

Police were forced to storm Britney's house after she held her children hostage and she was admitted to psychiatric hospital twice in January.

Concerned about her daughter's safety, Lynne when to see her but was blocked by Britney's former manager, Sam Lufti.

She believes he prevented her from seeing Britney and also convinced the star she had been put into rehab against her wishes my her mother.

A smiling Britney is pictured next to her mum Lynne after a film casting

A smiling Britney is pictured next to her mum Lynne after a film casting

She said: 'I must admit I probably never would have had the courage to commit her to a psych ward but it ended up being the turning point for her.'

By this stage, Britney was taking powerful anti-psychotic drugs including Risperdal and Seroquel.

Lynne decided to take action and went to court to get a restraining order on her former manager. She was awarded guardianship of Britney and was able to get her psychiatric treatment.

Since then, the troubled star is now free of prescription drugs and has been granted access to her two children.

And judging by her performance at last week's awards show, Britney Spears looks back to her old self.

Lynne said: 'She is my fighter, my sweetheart. My girl had been to hell and back.'

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