Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi has described his emotionally charged Glastonbury performance in 2023 as 'probably the best thing that's ever happened to me', stating it forced him to confront his mental health struggles and seek professional help.
The 29-year-old artist, who recently appeared on Strictly Come Dancing's Blackpool special, had previously stepped back from touring after a difficult set at the iconic festival. During the gig, he struggled to sing his hit songs to a crowd of tens of thousands, with fans rallying to support him by singing along to finish his final track, Someone You Loved.
The Turning Point
Speaking candidly on the This Past Weekend podcast with Theo Von, Capaldi revealed that while the Glastonbury incident was public and painful, a similar but 'even worse' episode had occurred weeks earlier in Chicago. 'I couldn't come back and finish a song. I was backstage convulsing and having this crazy panic attack and mental episode,' he shared.
However, it was the scale of the Glastonbury stage that made the difference. 'Because Glastonbury is such a big stage, it was the first time people outside my shows had seen it,' Capaldi explained. He described a feeling of relief afterwards, realising he could now 'actually go and get help and fix myself for the next two years.' He reflected, 'In a weird way, it's probably the best thing that's ever happened to me. I wouldn't have stopped otherwise. Glastonbury 2023 was, for sure, really important – maybe the most important day in my life.'
The Road to Recovery
Capaldi, who was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome in 2022 and also battles anxiety and panic attacks, has been back performing for six months. He credits therapy as the 'biggest thing that switched everything around' for his mental health.
'When I came off stage at Glastonbury, a therapist was the first thing I needed,' he said. He praised his current therapist for not letting him avoid difficult topics. 'My current therapist can sense when I'm being avoidant – he pulls me back in... I really responded to him not letting me away with it,' Capaldi admitted.
In addition to therapy, the singer revealed that a change in medication has been transformative. He swapped antidepressants for the anti-psychotic drug Aripiprazole, which he says has 'changed his life'. Acknowledging the initial fear around the medication's classification, he noted, 'It was really scary when they said anti psychotic – I was like I'm not psychotic. My anxiety levels are so low these days.'
