Lady Gaga Relates to Children Involved in Her Charity: "I've Suffered Through Depression and Anxiety My Entire Life"

"Born This Way" singer tells Billboard she's has struggled anxiety for years

By Samantha Schnurr Oct 15, 2015 5:21 PMTags
American Horror Story: Hotel, AHS, Lady GagaFX

Underneath a seemingly seamless veneer, Lady Gaga admits she's faced a life-long battle. 

"I've suffered through depression and anxiety my entire life," she said in the November issue of Billboard. "I still suffer with it every single day."

The multi-platinum Grammy winner has been a longtime activist, championing for the LGBT community and launching the Born This Way Foundation in support "of the wellness of young people." The foundation focuses on "peer support and preventive initiatives, including research on youth and mental health."  

While she has revealed other deeply-personal elements of her life over the years, including being raped at 19-years-old and battling anorexia and bulimia, this new revelation comes as an effort to show kids watching her that even Mother Monster has been through many rough moments. 

"I just want these kids to know that that depth that they feel as human beings is normal. We were born that way," she said, adding that the isolation born from the modern technological age does not help things. "This modern thing, where everyone is feeling shallow and less connected? That's not human."

"These kids just want to feel human, but they feel like robots," she said. "They don't understand why they're so sad. There are scientific reasons, which the foundation researches, why you feel sad when you look at your phone all day."  

While we may assume Lady Gaga's legacy as a pop icon and boundary-pushing performer is at the forefront of her overall living plan, the 29-year-old American Horror Story: Hotel actress says she has even more important things to tackle. 

"This is my life purpose, this foundation. This is why I was brought to life, I think," Gaga said. "If I need to get the president's attention -- whatever I have to do— I'll do it."

No matter what outfit she wears on the way to the White House—whether it be a meat dress or a floor-length gown—the "It Gets Better" singer asserts her message will unwaveringly remain. 

"Contrary to what many people think about me as a performer, I've never been willing to do anything," Gaga said. "Even if my work is sometimes shocking, there's always a message behind it."

What is that message?

"We don't have to be victims," says Gaga. "If we share our stories and stick together, we're stronger."