BRITNEY Spears has checked herself into rehab after gentle encouragement from her sons.
The Sun understands she resisted going to an inpatient facility for a month following her arrest for driving under the influence at the beginning of March.
But Britney has finally sought help after a series of heart to hearts with her sons Preston and Jayden, who have rallied around her following the incident.
The news broke early this morning that she had agreed to receive treatment.
Insiders said Britney decided to attend a placement only if it was away from Los Angeles, as she is so suspicious of medical experts there.
A US source explained: “Britney has had some seriously bad experiences in the past when she’s been at her lowest ebb, and is terrified of anyone taking advantage of her.
“Over the last five weeks, her management team and friends have been trying to persuade her to seek professional help but she expressed deep fears that all facilities in LA were ‘against me’.
“Her deep suspicions about LA’s medical community still stems from her time in the conservatorship controlled by her dad. She always felt that they acted against her will and made her ill.
“However her sons have had several heart to hearts with her in recent days and persuaded her to try somewhere different, out of town, with new experts to assist her.
“Britney has gone to the facility, but has not made any promises about how long her stay will be. Her stay is voluntary so she can check out or walk away whenever she wants.
“Jayden especially has become extremely close to Britney recently and has moved in with her.
“He wants to make sure she is in a good place and mentally strong enough for her court appearance next month.”
Britney was arrested on March 4 after driving erratically and was found to have drugs and alcohol in her system.
The Toxic singer will be told about the extent of charges in court on May 4.
Britney, who has bipolar disorder, famously shaved her head in 2007 and the following year she was put in a conservatorship which put her personal and financial affairs in the hands of her dad, Jamie.
That agreement was terminated in 2021 but it’s not been smooth sailing since then, with erratic social media posts leading many to question her wellbeing.