Britney Spears' mother has revealed her hurt and suffering in a new book titled 'Through The Storm — A Real Story Of Fame And Family'.

The book details her daughter's pain over her break up with Justin Timberlake, her failed marriage to Kevin Federline and her alcoholic father.

She claims that the first sign of Britney's downward spiral was when the singer shaved all her hair last year.

She said: "It was so shocking, so disturbing to see that girl with such despondency in her eyes — it broke my heart in a million pieces."

The 26-year-old was also filmed being taken to a psychiatric ward on a stretcher from her home in Hollywood.

Lynne said: "When I saw her in the ambulance, her beautiful brown eyes pained and haunted, something inside me broke."

"To see my child like this — at the lowest ebb of her life — almost killed me. I was overcome with a feeling of sadness and helplessness."

Lynne (54) says that Britney refused to speak to her after her first time in rehab and their relationship dwindled.

She said: "Britney would lash out at me, accusing me of siding with Kevin and letting him have the boys. In fact, she refused to speak to me, and our estrangement lasted an excruciating seven months."

After being committed to a psychiatric ward for a second time Lynne and Jamie, her husband, were convinced that it was "a life and death situation".