Katy Perry has opened up about struggling with depression following the flop of her last album, ‘Witness’. The 33-year-old singer confessed to getting her heart broken when the public did not react to her new music the way she dreamed of. This scenario made her deal with what psychologists call ‘situational depression’.
‘Situational depression’ occurs when someone cannot adjust or cope with a particular stress or a major life event. For artists, not being recognized for their work can lead to a serious downfall faster than others. Many musicians, actors and all types of creators and performers have struggled with depression as a result of negative feedback.
Katy Perry spoke about dealing with those rough times in the ‘Vogue Australia’ August issue. Compared to her 2013 album ‘Prism’, the 2017 album ‘Witness’ was deemed a flop, with only 180,000 copies in its first week after release.
“I have had bouts of situational depression and my heart was broken last year because, unknowingly, I put so much validity in the reaction of the public, and the public didn’t react in the way I had expected to … which broke my heart”.
“Music is my first love and I think it was the universe saying: ‘Okay, you speak all of this language about self-love and authenticity, but we are going to put you through another test and take away any kind of validating blankie. Then we’ll see how much you do truly love yourself.’ That brokenness gave me a wholeness I never had. It gave me a new foundation. It’s not just a material foundation: it’s a soul foundation.”
Though a tough time for the singer, she said the experience changed her perspective on life.
“That brokenness, plus me opening up to a greater, higher power and reconnecting with divinity, gave me a wholeness I never had. It gave me a new foundation. It’s not just a material foundation: it’s a soul foundation.”
Perry disclosed she checked herself into a retreat to deal with these feelings.
“I was ready to let go of anything that was holding me back from being my ultimate self,’ she told Vogue Australia.
“I recommend it to everyone, my good friends and other artists who are looking for a breakthrough. There are a lot of people who are self-medicating through validation in audiences, through substances, by continually running away from their realities – denial, withdrawal. I did that for a long, long time too”.
It’s certainly a breath of fresh air to see so many celebrities open up about their mental struggles. In a short while, the stigma surrounding mental illness will cease to exist. Please share!
