Karise Eden tells Australian Story how she hit “rock bottom”

Karise Eden, who famously won the first series of The Voice is finally revealing why she stepped away from the spotlight following her 2012 win.

In her only media interview Eden tells Australian Story about her mental and physical breakdown, ahead of a new release.

More than three-million viewers watched Karise Eden named as “The Voice Australia” in 2012.

One week later, she had four songs in the top five ARIA singles chart, the first artist to achieve that since The Beatles in 1964.

But her national tour, a few months later, was cancelled after just four performances.

Now the 22 year old singer is giving one, and only one media interview to explain what happened.

In the exclusive with Australian Story, Karise Eden says she suffered a complete physical and mental breakdown.

“It’s been a huge secret. This will probably be the first time I’ve spoken out. Only my close family and friends are aware of truly what happened,” she told the program.

“I think definitely that was me saying ‘enough is enough.’ I’ve warned everybody. I’ve been nice, I’ve been sweet, I’ve been assertive, I’ve been aggressive, I’ve been crying to you all, now I’ve hit rock bottom.”

“Shut up and listen to me. I’m falling off, come and get me.”

In the long and frank interview with Australian Story, she also talks about her difficult teenage years after being made a ward of the state at age 13 and living in a series of refuges.

After learning to play the guitar, she discovered that she had a big singing voice and started performing in local clubs and festivals.

Now, three years after winning The Voice, she says she is finally ready to step back into the limelight.

She has a new album of original songs coming out, a new baby on the way and she says she is now emotionally ready to take on the pressures of a music career in the public eye.

“Yeah I definitely feel like I’ve been living under a rock and I’m finally crawling out. I’m excited. I’m pumped. I’m nervous. I’m ready.”

8pm Monday on ABC.