During an emotional speech he delivered throughout a present in Amsterdam over the weekend, Robbie Williams opened up about his struggles with psychological sickness and thanked followers for “protecting” him.
“Over the years, there has been the delving into the mental illness and the struggling with just being a human,” Williams mentioned when addressing the viewers at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome on Saturday (January 28).
“In 2006, it got so much that I retired from the industry. Obviously, I’m still here, so that didn’t fucking work out, but I did. And for three years, I just sat on the couch and I ate crisps, chips, and I ate donuts, and I grew a beard and I looked like a serial killer, and I looked for UFOs, which made me look even more crazy. I became agoraphobic and I didn’t leave the house. I only left the house for doctor’s meetings,” Williams mentioned.
“I had no purpose and I had no life. Being on top of the world, which I was at the time, selling all of these stadiums and being in the newspapers every day… My head tells me I don’t deserve any of this. My head tells me that I’m shit and that I’m worthless,” he continued.
“That’s what my head tells me. And then, when you’re on top of the world, everybody wants to drag you down. The newspapers want to drag you down. Social media wants to drag you down. They just want to cut you down to size and make it not work anymore, and make it not happen.”
Williams goes on to say he “internalised” the “unkind words” written about him, main him to his retirement in 2006 and main him to think about taking his personal life. He then says two issues stored him “safe” throughout that point – the primary being assembly his spouse, American actress Ayda Field.
“The other thing, which is true, because my brain tells me that I’m worthless and I’m an imposter and I shouldn’t be here and I don’t deserve any of this, the one thing that counteracted that, and also kept me safe, was the fact that you guys are here, and you guys like me, and you guys want me to be well,” Williams advised the gang, to applause.
“If it wasn’t for you, and it wasn’t for my wife, and it wasn’t for my kids now, I don’t think I’d be here. So, I’m eternally grateful to you for, in a very, very crazy, mad way, protecting me. Thank you very much.”
Speaking to NME final 12 months, Williams mentioned his battle with psychological well being points and substance abuse, and being open to assist from these near him. “The good thing about me is I will listen to help. I’ve always felt there was something inside worth saving, and I’ve always wanted to be saved,” he mentioned.
“When it comes to being delusional about other things, I am, but when it comes to being delusional about addiction and my own mental health, I don’t suffer with that. It was like, ‘Oh, this is out of control and these people are putting their hand out to save me and I’ll grab that hand.’ I do know that an awful lot can’t be helped, and exclude people that come to save them. I don’t wanna be in that kind of pain.”
Last 12 months noticed Williams launch ‘XXV’, a set of re-recorded and orchestrated songs from all through his profession, which topped the UK Album Chart, breaking a report beforehand held by Elvis Presley. He additionally launched into a tour of the UK and Ireland and performed a pair particular exhibits on the Royal Albert Hall which have been filmed for inclusion in his upcoming biopic, Better Man.
Last month, Williams mentioned he sees “a lot” of himself in Harry Styles. Earlier this month, Williams reiterated his need to play Glastonbury‘s legends slot, saying he’d “slaughter it” if given the chance.
For assist and recommendation on psychological well being: