Ellie Goulding has opened up about her battle with anxiety – and how she thinks it's important that celebrities speak out about their own struggles with the disorder.
Speaking to Stylist, the singer revealed that she was forced to cancel several shows from her Delerium World Tour in July after being diagnosed with exhaustion, and that it felt like her body was "giving up".
© Photo: Getty ImagesEllie cancelled several shows due to exhaustion
"I'd have panic attacks and, to me, they felt like I was dying of a heart attack," she said. "It's a very hot, burning feeling, like your heart is racing uncontrollably which is extra scary for me because I actually have a heart defect.
"When I think back to my tiredness, my slump, not wanting to exercise and not being interested in anything. It wasn't depression, it was just my body giving up."
The 29-year-old has encouraged others to speak out about mental health, saying: "Too many people are quiet about mental health. When you feel anxiety, it's a very lonely feeling. It makes you feel like you're the only person in the world feeling that way."
© Photo: Getty ImagesEllie opened up about her anxiety
Fellow pop star Zayn Malik has previously spoken about his anxiety after he was forced to cancel his performance at the Capital Summertime Ball due to what he called "the worst anxiety of [his] career". In a tweet, he wrote: "I flew into the UK last night to appear in my home country in front of my family, friends, and most importantly my UK fans. Unfortunately my anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me … with the magnitude of the event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career.
"I cannot apologise enough but I want to be honest with everyone who has patiently waited to see me, I promise I will do my best to make this up to everybody I've let down today. I know those who suffer anxiety will understand and I hope those who don't can empathise with my situation."
