Janet Jackson on the cover of Essence | Photo: Instagram/janetjackson
Janet Jackson has gotten candid about her struggles with her mental health.
The That’s The Way Love Goes singer bravely opened up about her experience of depression for Essence.
The 52-year-old admitted in the magazine that the condition caused her problems in her 40s.
‘I easily fell into despair’
‘In my forties, like millions of women in the world, I still heard voices inside my head berating me, voices questioning my value.’
She furthermore added: ‘Happiness was elusive. A reunion with old friends might make me happy. A call from a colleague might make me happy. But because sometimes I saw my failed relationships as my fault, I easily fell into despair.’
Admitting she’s experienced mental health difficulties on and off from a young age, Janet said: ‘I struggled with depression. The struggle was intense.’
‘Low self-esteem might be rooted in childhood feelings of inferiority. It could relate to failing to meet impossibly high standards. And of course there are always the societal issues of racism and sexism. Put it all together and depression is a tenacious and scary condition. Thankfully, I found my way through it.’
Janet gave birth to her first child, son Eissa Al Mana, in January 2017 at the age of 50.
Speaking about motherhood and the ‘height of happiness’, she said: ‘When I kiss him. When I sing him softly to sleep. During those sacred times, happiness is everywhere.’
WATCH: Janet Jackson honored with 2017 Music Icon Award at the Out100 Gala
