Jhené Aiko, 33, has recently opened up about her mental health struggles, including her journey to sobriety and unhealed trauma.
In an Instagram post on Monday night, the singer wrote, “I’ve spent most of my life being extremely sensitive, drained and nervous when around a lot of people and/or multiple energies at once. I’ve spent most of my life with crippling insecurity… feeling awkward and shy in front of cameras and audiences.”
The six-time Grammy Award nominee revealed, “My anxiety was causing a downward spiral, self-medicating and self-sabotage [triggered by] motherhood, loss, depression, addiction… life is a f***ing trip.”
“I’ve always felt the urge to express myself [musically] with the intention to overcome my emotions and to share those expressions with the intention to help others,” she continued. “But anxiety, sensitivity, unhealed trauma and feelings of not belonging or ever being enough kept me from fully accepting or being comfortable with any type of spotlight.”
Aiko went on to say that “from time to time” she feels “confident enough to be myself… shy, awkward and ALL… and step into the light.”
She also revealed that she has still been fighting against substance abuse. “I’ve spent the last few years getting sober… using sound, aroma and color therapy, proper diet, meditation, exercise, etc… to become a stronger, clearer vessel of love, truth and light,” the Sativa singer wrote.
Aiko added, “I will never be perfect, nor do I ever want to be seen as such… but when u see me, know u are looking at a fighter. And I know u are fighting too. So when u see me I hope you also see you.”
In 2017, Aiko told NPR that she was battling with substance abuse. At the time, she said, “Since I was young, I’ve dealt with addiction. I started taking sleeping pills when I was a pre-teen and then drinking as a young teenager, then experimenting with drugs and prescription pills as an adult.”
“When my brother passed [in 2012] it got worse, like a dependency,” Aiko continued. “Whenever I was feeling unpleasant feelings, that’s what I would turn to. And I’m like 90 pounds, so stuff like that really affects me … I started having liver problems and kidney problems. It was really affecting me mentally, too. Every time I was performing, even on those late night shows, I was on something.”
Sharing that she was on the road to recovery, Aiko said, “I feel like [in order] to get passed it I have to share it. It’s something that I’m still working through.” The story was published Tuesday on PEOPLE.
