While Demi Lovato has undoubtedly come a long way since her days in rehab, the former child star admits having adult responsibilities at an early age made her believe that she could act like a grown-up.
"My mentality was 'Work hard, play hard,'" the blue-haired beauty tells the December/January issue of Nylon magazine (as reported by People). "It was hard to listen to the word 'no.' I wanted to make my own rules. I thought that if I was adult enough to get there, then I could party like an adult. And obviously, I couldn't."
Despite her parents' best efforts to control the former child star, the 21-year-old singer, who became her family's primary breadwinner, didn't listen to those who were concerned for her wellbeing.
"My parents tried to control me, but I'd be like, 'Oh really, I'm grounded? Well, I pay the bills,'" Lovato explains. "They did the best they could. And I think that's why a lot of young stars struggle when they're making money or providing for their family."
Her 'work hard, play hard' mentality ultimately caused the X Factor judge to abruptly withdraw from the Jonas Brothers Live In Concert Tour in October 2010 to enter a treatment facility for "physical and emotional issues" at the young age of 18 after struggling with addiction, an eating disorder and cutting.
She left the rehab center in January 2011 and has since led a sober life while maintaining a successful career in Hollywood, acting as a role model for all her fans.
But despite the fact that Lovato has launched a mental health scholarship in honor of her late father and is even in her process of penning a tell-all memoir, she says she does not want to be remembered solely for her struggles.
"I would like to separate myself from being the girl who overcame her issues, or the Disney chick who ended up in rehab while she was still on Disney," she says. "I don't want people to hear my songs on the radio and be like, 'Oh, that's the girl who cut.'"
Still, Lovato, who recently said she would rather sacrifice her privacy in order to help people, acknowledges that she has a special relationship with her fans because of her honesty.
"Now I have probably the best relationship between any artist and their fans," she says. "Because I have no secrets."