United Kingdom, June 23 -- Ashley Walters has likened conquering his addiction issues to breaking up with a partner.

The former So Solid Crew star, 42, spent two decades battling alcohol addiction but he's been sober for five years since kicking the habit during a stint in rehab and he's revealed that during his treatment he wrote a letter to the "disease" as they parted ways.

He told Men's Health magazine: "Alcoholism is a disease. I didn't realise until I got some professional help that it centres in the mind. It's not the drug or drink of choice that's the issue.

"The easy part is to stop consuming alcohol, or whatever. The hard part is dealing with the problem in your head. But if you don't remedy that part, you're always going to ...