LeAnn Rimes Experienced 'Pretty Heavy Depression' During COVID-19 Lockdown — But She's Since 'Come Out Of It'
Staying at home during the early months of pandemic was tough for many, but for LeAnn Rimes, who's used to traveling the country to tour, it took a serious toll on her mental health.
"I have my whole life, on the road, I’ve never had this much time at home. Like my nervous system was just like, ‘What are we doing?’" she recalled while on the "Verywell Mind Podcast." "Even though I meditate and do all the things, there was still this kind of energy that’s always on. That really kind of is my baseline."
"So, when that got taken away, the false security of having a job my whole life, like having all the things removed, and I was terrified as everyone else, including feeling like you’re going to walk out your door and die," the country singer explained.
Rimes revealed the unfamiliar territory caused her to fall into a "pretty heavy depression," but she's since "come out of it."
"And the upside of that, which has been good. [It helps to get] a different perspective, because sometimes we can be in our own world and not be able to step out of it," the Masked Singer alum noted. "So, I’ve always found that therapy definitely helps with that."
The star also disclosed that she felt some anxiety when she recently played her first concert in 16 months.
"I was so triggered," she said of being in front of thousands of fans again. "I’m like, 'Oh my God, the experience that I’m having right now is so intense.'"
"And it was also like, nothing happened. I walked out, it’s like riding a bike, it didn’t feel like there were 16 months in between," she added. "I recognized when I went out, how unhealthy some of this [was]. I’m like, this is not the normal experience that I’m supposed to be having. And I’ve been having this heightened, energetic experience for my whole life."
In 2012, Rimes entered a treatment facility to cope with anxiety and stress.
"While there will be speculation regarding her treatment, she is simply there to learn and develop coping mechanisms," her rep stated to PEOPLE at the time. "While privacy isn’t expected, it’s certainly appreciated."