Mischa Barton descibes 'full-on breakdown' for first time

(UPI) -- It's been almost seven years since Mischa Barton was pulled over by a police officer in West Hollywood and arrested for driving under the influence.

A long, public decline over the next 18 months landed her in the psych ward at Cedars-Sinai under a 5150 psychiatric hold after she threatened to kill herself.

"It was a full-on breakdown," Barton said, opening up about the "terrifying" experience for the first time in detail. "I was under enormous pressure."

Barton burst into superstardom at the age of 17, with the overnight success of "The O.C." in 2003, but fame came with constant criticism, particularly about her weight.

"It was always, 'She's too skinny, she must be sick,'" Barton recalled. "Then, it was, 'She's too big.' I was never the right weight."

The breakdown was a turning point, forcing her to take her foot off the gas and focus more on her health. Now, she's busy running her London boutique, which carries her makeup and handbag lines, and is starring in the supernatural thriller, "I Will Follow You Into The Dark."

Her full interview with People hits newsstands Friday.