A mum who hit "rock bottom" and became addicted to drugs after her husband was tragically killed says finding new love helped turned her life around.

Natalee King, 33, says she was "high almost 24/7" following the death of her soldier partner John King in 2013.

She became depressed and addicted to crystal meth and Xanax - and even spent time in prison for drug-driving.

But, five years after going sober, Natalee is a woman transformed.

The air force vehicle operator says meeting Justin White, 31, helped her onto the straight and narrow - and they now have a beautiful family.

John, a soldier, was killed in a training accident ten years ago.

She said: "I was told he was OK at first, but two hours went by and then they all showed up in blue uniform, and told me he was dead.

"It was gut-wrenching. I remember I was sitting on the couch and when I stood up, my knees gave out. I fell to the floor and started vomiting like I had the flu.

"I remember looking at my son and it was unbearable - I didn't know how I would be able to raise him alone."

John's death sent Natalee into a spiral - and it was then that she became addicted to prescription Xanax.

She said: "It made me forget what I was feeling. Every day was so painful - every morning I'd wake up and hate my life. I wished I wouldn't have to keep waking up."

But, just months later, doctors took the drugs away - so Natalee turned to buying it from street dealers on street corners.

Natalee says she was then in and out of prison - and had to sign over custody of her young son over to her mum.

She said: "My mum talked me into handing over custody because she didn't think I would make it out alive.

But then, in 2016, Natalee met Justin - who told her he wanted to help her get clean.

The couple worked together and now, in February 2023, it will be five years since she touched drugs, cigarettes or alcohol.

The mum-of-two also got custody of John back from her mum and she and Justin had a son of their own, Jensen Richard White, now four, in 2018.

She said: "When I hit rock bottom, I was taking methamphetamine in the day to wake me up, and Xanax at night to help me sleep.

"I had no car, no job, and I was living at my parents house.

"But a man came into my life, Justin, and helped me get sober. It took two years to taper myself off the Xanax because of how much I was taking.

"Justin stayed by my side until I was clean - even when my father died in 2021, which I had worried would send me spiralling back, I stayed sober.

"Now I'll celebrate five years clean next month and it feels amazing - I'm not on a constant rollercoaster any more.

"It feels so good to be clean. Drugs really tear your body apart, so badly.

"I felt - and still feel - temptations all the time. I even have dreams of using Xanax and crystal meth almost every night, even five years later.

"But I'm not around those people any more - I have my kids and I have Justin.

"I lost almost half my life to drugs but I will not go back - because it feels amazing to be here."