Sources reprotedly close to Justin Bieber told People that the popstar is currently going through a tough time, although they made it clear it “has nothing to do with Hailey.” In a rare interview, Bieber got candid about his Xanax abuse.
“Justin seems down and tired. He has been struggling a bit,” sources close to the singer revealed. “It has nothing to do with Hailey — he is very happy being married to her. It’s just something else that he struggles with mentally. He has good help around him and is receiving some treatment. He seems confident he will feel better soon.” A second source said that he has indeed sought out counseling. A third source added that he’s been struggling with “the idea of fame.”
They continued, “He started off as a typical sweet, Canadian teen. He was such a great kid, honestly super sweet and very polite and nice to everyone around him. Having this huge amount of fame completely changed him.” Bieber was thrust into the spotlight when he was just 15. The singer is now 24, and has since drifted further and further from the public eye. “He had access to anything and everything and was surrounded by people who just said ‘Yes.’”
In his recent Vogue cover feature, Bieber explained that he attributed his Xanax use to shame rather than depression or anxiety. “I found myself doing things that I was so ashamed of, being super-promiscuous and stuff, and I think I used Xanax because I was so ashamed,” he said. “I think there were times when my security was coming in late at night to check my pulse and see if I was still breathing.” He added that he now sticks to social drinking.