Brinkley gave daughter "tough love"

Christie Brinkley has revealed that she remained compassionate during her daughter's overdose scare.

Alexa Ray Joel was hospitalised last December after taking eight pills of Traumeel, a homeopathic ibuprofen substitute.

The 55-year-old told Ladies' Home Journal: "Your job as a parent is to listen. And to dole out as much love as you can. That includes tough love. I told Alexa, 'You got yourself worked into such a tizzy. You need to examine that, you need to seek professional advice'.

"She tried to do something dramatic to prove to her boyfriend how much he hurt her. I think many people can relate to that excruciating pain of love gone wrong. I'd rather have a broken arm than a broken heart."

Brinkley also insisted that her daughter wasn't attempting suicide and that she has decided to take time to focus on her career.