exactly is Demi Lovato Battling

Disney star Demi Lovato shocked fans when she checked into a medical center on Monday, November 1. Now, there are disturbing reports about the nature of her problems.

The shock at Lovato's decision to enter rehab for treating "emotional and physical issues" was compounded by Lovato's clean image so far.

She has always conducted herself with grace and equanimity, maintaining a cheerful disposition even at stressful times, like her split with Joe Jonas in May, or past reports that she is a cutter.

So what went wrong?

On Monday, TMZ reported that Demi's decision was partly prompted by a physical altercation that she got into at Peru airport with a female dancer on the Jonas Brothers tour, for which she is the opening act.

A People source has confirmed that the fight with the dancer was the catalyst for Lovato's decision to seek treatment.

According to E! Online, following Lovato's dustup with the dancer, "the [Jonases'] dad told her, 'That's it. You're going home.'"

E! also reports that Demi threatened Joe's new girlfriend, Ashley Greene, who was also at the airport.

The claim is contested by a Gossip Cop source who says, "No one kicked her off the tour."

Whatever be the full truth, clearly, the demons that Lovato has battled and bottled are beginning to affect her conduct.

What are these demons?

On Monday, a Lovato family source told People, "She was bullied in school. She fought through eating disorders and has struggled with cutting. ... Demi is taking control by getting help."

Childhood bullying appears to be one of the demons that Lovato is battling.

She has alluded to bullying being the source of her current problems often and since long.

In 2008, she told Ellen DeGeneres that she quit middle school and switched to home schooling after being bullied badly in 7th grade.

Sources are now confirming to TMZ that Lovato's self destructive behavior has its roots in the bullying.

Intriguingly, Demi's father, Patrick, in an interview with Radar Onine says he was not aware that his daughter was bullied.

Patrick separated from Demi's mother in 1994, so it's moot how much he could be expected to know.

There have been at least a couple of reports suggesting an added dimension to Demi's problems.

An insider has told People magazine that Lovato "doesn't have that same kind of love for life that she at one point had."

According to Gossip.com, the next few days will reveal that Lovato has "larger issues," mental and otherwise.