Christina Aguilera Goes Public With Struggle With Depression

In the newest “Behind the Music” special airing on VH1 Sunday, Christina Aguilera opens up about her secret battle against depression. She says that in her darkest moments she has found creative inspiration but that sad feelings are “always right below the surface”.

“I do battle with depression. It’s something that is always right below the surface. And it’s almost seductive to go to a place of sadness and darkness… I’m truly thankful for the darkest times in my life,” she explains.

“I definitely don’t choose the safe way of living or expressing myself but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

One only has to look at Aguilera’s life to see where the seeds of depression may have been sown. She was an “army brat” and her family moved frequently when she was a child. With a father in the Army and a mom who was a professional musician, it is likely that Aguilera did not have as much attention as a child as she should have. Her parents split when she was only 6 so we now have the aftermath of divorce. For a time, she lived with a grandmother instead of her parents.

Then in 2004, after removing 11 piercings from her body, she said that they were done in order to help her though a rough time. Sounds suspiciously like a socially acceptable form of self-harm, doesn’t it?

It is good to see celebrities openly discuss issues like depression, however. Only by talking about it and increasing awareness will we see a dissipation of the stigma still attached to anything to do with needing help for a mental illness.

Whenever the issue is brought up to the public, it tells young girls who may look up to and admire Aguilera, that it’s okay to admit to dark feelings and sadness. Hopefully, this will give them the courage to seek help for their depression instead of turning to self-destructive means of coping.