Janet Jackson Opens Up About Her 'Intense' Struggle With Depression

Janet Jackson is opening up about her mental health journey.
In a new feature for Essence, the 52-year-old songstress pens an open letter to her fans about her “intense” struggle with depression.
Related: Icon Award Recipient Janet Jackson Gives A STRONG Live Performance!
When speaking about her thirties, the mom of one writes:

“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.”

She continues about her experience in her forties:

“In my forties: Like millions of women in the world, I still heard voices inside my head berating me, voices questioning my value. 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.”

The legendary singer goes on to say it’s the love of her one-year-old son, Eissa Al Mana, that brings her so much joy in present day:

“The height of happiness is holding my baby son in my arms and hearing him coo, or when I look into his smiling eyes and watch him respond to my tenderness. When I kiss him. When I sing him softly to sleep. During those sacred times, happiness is everywhere.”

Children are life’s greatest blessings!
See the STUNNING photos from the shoot (below)!