Sam Smith has said they have been “hit hard” by issues with their mental health.
Speaking to Zane Lowe in an Apple Music interview, the singer said they think they have suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“I’ve always been sad, but for the first time I actually really had mental health issues, like panic attacks, anxiety, depression,” they told the programme.
“It really hit me hard. I think it was PTSD probably from before.”
The 28-year-old singer added that the ending of a relationship “didn’t help, but it was a tough time, really tough”.
“The adrenaline high that you hit when you’re on stage, that when you come off, the silence in a changing room is really, really tough,” Sam explained.
“It’s taken me six, seven years to actually work out what I need to make that OK.
“I’m nervous about the next tour too, but I think the energy will be different on the next tour.”
Sam’s new album Love Goes will be released on 20 October.
It was originally titled To Die For but Sam renamed it because the title did not “feel right” amid a global pandemic.
They also told Apple Music: “The album was safe, but I’m not ashamed of that, because at a moment of such unsafety in my life, all I wanted to feel was safe.
“So that’s honest to me. Pushing myself during that second album would have been probably detrimental to my health because I wasn’t in the right space.”
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.