Miley Cyrus discovered strength by gaining creative and romantic independence.
“When I went through a really intense breakup — you know, I was engaged — and when I was with him or when I was on Disney, the thing that gave me the most anxiety was not knowing what to do with myself when Disney wasn’t there to carry me anymore or if I didn’t have him,” Miley Cyrus said for Elle‘s May cover story.
Although the natures of the relationships didn’t give her anxiety, Miley explained they brought out some of her deeper, darker fears.
“Now I’m free of both of those things, and I’m fine,” said Miley, 21. “Like, I lay in bed at night by myself and I’m totally okay, and that’s so much stronger than the person three years ago, who would have thought they would have died if they didn’t have a boyfriend.”
Miley expressed a similar sentiment to Ellen DeGeneres in October, shortly after ending her engagement to the Hunger Games star.
“I keep saying I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and that’s not even a dig, that’s just me because I really am genuinely happy finally with myself, which I think sometimes it takes you separating yourself from someone else to really be happy with who you are,” she said at the time. “I’ve never been able to just be alone. I’m obsessed with being alone and hearing my thoughts.”
Speaking to Elle, Miley revealed more about her past struggles with depression.
“I went through a time where I was really depressed. Like, I locked myself in my room and my dad had to break my door down. It was a lot to do with, like, I had really bad skin, and I felt really bullied because of that. But I never was depressed because of the way someone else made me feel, I just was depressed.”
She added she’s honored whenever fans tell her she’s helped them with their struggles — but wants them to know it goes both ways.
“That gives me a big purpose — a reason to wake up in the morning that’s bigger than to put on my f**king feathers and my little outfits.”
