EXCLUSIVE: Ramona Singer on how she feared her former party pal Sonja Morgan was on a 'downward spiral' and in denial over 'substance problem'

Ramona Singer has opened up about how she feared for Sonja Morgan, saying her estranged friend had lost control of her life.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, The Real Housewives of New York star said she believes Sonja lashed out at her as 'a scapegoat.'

And while they were once party pals, the RHONY star says Sonja struggled with 'a substance problem' and was 'on a spiral downward.'

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Tension: Ramona Singer with her former party pal Sonja Morgan in April 

Ramona, 59, also said she tried to intervene and be a good friend instead of 'an enabler', but was left hurt by Sonja's reaction and denial. 

'She's bad mouthing me all over, on blogs and on the internet, and saying things that aren't true about me to take the focus off of her,' Ramona said.

Writing on her Bravo blog, Sonja, 52, has called Ramona 'a pill' who loves to 'stir the pot', 'drinks like a fish' and says she likes to create drama.

But Ramona said it saddens her that Sonja lashed out to deflect attention from her own issues.

Sonja spent time in Canyon Ranch over Christmas as is now 'back on track.'

Concerned: The reality star confronted Sonja about her drinking on RHONY in an episode this month

'It's really hurting me tremendously that Sonja is using me a scapegoat, because I've been her friend for so long,' said Ramona.

'And when I did speak of her issues, it was for her best interests,' she insisted.

'It's my way of trying to help her because that's what real friends do. I didn't want to be an enabler.'

Ramona has repeatedly clashed with Sonja over her behavior on this season of RHONY, and also accused Luann de Lesseps of being a bad influence.

Not worried: Sonja denies she has a problem and wrote on her blog that Ramona is 'a pill' who's always stirring the pot and trying to create drama

Despite having a some wild times herself, Ramona said she and the other women drink responsibly.

'It's one thing when you're out socially having a drink, but another when you're involved with a substance, on a spiral downward that affects your daily life or interaction with other people,' she said, adding: 'She has a substance problem.' 

Ramona insisted she is only speaking up because she was concerned for Sonja and trying to be a good friend instead. 

'In the long term, I hope she realises my intention was never to hurt her, but to help her,' she said. 'Sometimes you have to hurt someone to help them.'

'I would want someone do the same for me if they saw me spiralling downward or on the wrong track.'

And the Bravo star admitted it was 'difficult' to see Sonja's issues - including her bankruptcy - play out in public. 

'I think the viewer can see what's happened to her,' she said. 'I love her tremendously and it saddens me and hurts me tremendously that instead of taking in what I said to her, she's deflecting and attacking me.'

Ramona is one of the original cast members on the long-running reality show, which is now in its eight season. 

Happier times: Ramona said she was 'hurt' that her attempt to help Sonja was initially ignored