EXCLUSIVE: 'Every single part of my life is better': Denise Welch reflects on five years of sobriety as she reveals musician son wrote 'heartbreaking' song about her battle

• e-mail

She's been candid in her fight for sobriety following her well-documented battle with depression for nearly three decades.

Now, Denise Welch has opened up exclusively with MailOnline reflecting on five years of teetotalism, how she's become an inspiration to her children and that her eldest son's band, The 1975, would never have happened if she hadn't won over her addictions.

Speaking at the launch of Moonpig’s #PlantASmile campaign, in aid of mental health charity Mind, the 58-year-old revealed she has become an inspiration to her musician son Matt Healy, since getting sober in April 2012.

Scroll down for video 

Inspiration: Denise Welch has opened up exclusively with MailOnline reflecting on five years of teetotalism and how she's become an inspiration to her children

The 27-year-old - who is the lead singer of Brit band The 1975 - most recently documented Denise's struggle to combat her demons and manage her depression in their song She Lays Down from their latest studio album.

Opening up about his songwriting, Denise admitted her eldest - who she had with ex husband Tim Healy - would have never carved a career in music had she not been able to manage her addictions.

She said: 'They have seen me go through a lot. There’s an absolutely beautiful song on my son’s second album called She Lays Down, which Matthew wrote about his experience and his knowledge of my illness and it’s heartbreaking. 

'But, it shows how much he understands what I went through and why I self-medicated for so long. They could not be happier, and the ripple effect of sobriety show its affects in a positive way with all the people who love you. 

She added: 'And Matthew said himself The 1975 wouldn’t be up for two brits and four NMEs if it weren’t for me being so happy in my marriage and my sobriety because he would worry so much.'

Writing it out: Speaking at the launch of Moonpig’s #PlantASmile campaign, the 58-year-old revealed she has become an inspiration to her sons Matt (R) and Louis Healy (L), since getting sober in April 2012

In a much happier place, she admitted overcoming her addiction issues has helped create an open dialogue between her and her children.

Despite declaring her teenage son Louis, 16, considers their sober household 'a bit boring', she insisted she has more fun now than she did when she was drinking. 

She explained: 'We're very open about it. Obviously Louis grows up in a sober household which I’m sure he thinks is a bit boring sometimes, when I don’t want turn a blind eye to parties of 84 people traipsing through my house. 

'Ultimately, it’s got to be a good thing and being sober doesn’t mean being boring, I have more fun than I’ve ever had now than when I was drinking.' 

Open: In a much happier place, she admitted overcoming her addiction issues has helped create an open dialogue between her and her children, Matt, 27, and Louis, 16

In it together: Denise and her artist hubby Lincoln Townley, who wed in 2013, have gone through their sobriety journey together

Now firmly on the wagon with her husband Lincoln Townley - who also is celebrating five year of sobriety - Denise insisted that staying sober has made every single part of her life better.

Having successfully stayed off the booze for five years, the former Coronation star admitted that getting dry has helped aid her depressive episodes, after she self-medicated with alcohol for many years.

She insisted: 'I don’t drink anymore, I haven't drank for nearly 5 years in April. I don’t compound my illness anymore. I don't self-medicate which has meant it has improved hugely, in the length of the episodes when I get poorly. 

'I still love my food but I control my weight because I have a tendency with eating issues and so I use CBT to control my weight, which helped me quit smoking so there was a ripple effect with that. 

Happy: Having successfully stayed off the booze for five years, the former Coronation star admitted that getting dry has helped aid her depressive episodes, after she self-medicated with alcohol for many years

'And every single part of my life is better as a result of being sober. That has helped enormously to give me clarity. Giving up alcohol doesn’t cure depression but it stops you compounding it.' 

While coming out on the other side of her addictions, Denise reflected on the past few years and admitted without her incredible friends and family, she wouldn't have got through the difficult times. 

She said: I’ve been incredibly lucky and I thank the people around me in my life, my friends and family, who have always acknowledged what I have as a serious illness and never thought of it as anything other than that.'

Speaking at the launch of Moonpig's #PlantASmile campaign, the Mind charity ambassador opened up about the stigma that still surrounds mental health and revealed that less than 20% of people will think of sending something to a friend or family member suffering from a mental illness. 

Grateful: While coming out on the other side of her addictions, Denise reflected on the past few year and admitted without her incredible friends and family, she wouldn't have got through the difficult times

Trying dispel the stigma, Denise teamed up with the personalised greeting card and gift retailer to get the message out there that a card or a bouquet flowers does go a long way, with two thirds of mental health suffers explaining a gesture would make them feel cared about. 

She said: 'It just let’s people know that you are poorly because there is a fear in people with mental illness that people don’t believe they’re poorly because they can’t show them anything and it is the most isolating and frightening condition. 

'I've learnt to manage mine which doesn’t mean, it feel any worse when it comes. Just that I don't live with the fear that it won’t go away like you do when it’s in the early onset days. Helping raise awareness.'  

Denise Welch is the ambassador of Moonpig’s #PlantASmile campaign. In aid of mental health charity Mind, it busts the myth of Blue Monday and highlights the importance of staying connected with loved ones all year round. Find out more about the bespoke charity Thinking of You range 

A long way: Trying dispel the stigma, Denise teamed up with the personalised greeting card and gift retailer to get the message out there that a card or a bouquet flowers does go a long way