Photo credit: DailyMail
Lola Young has spoken candidly for the first time following a terrifying episode last September when she collapsed during a performance and had to be carried off stage at the All Things Go Music Festival in New York’s Forest Hills Stadium. The singer, known for her hit single Messy, attributed the incident to her ongoing struggle with addiction.
While performing her song Conceited, Lola suddenly lost consciousness and was helped off stage by the technical crew. This moment marked a turning point in her life, leading her to cancel all future shows indefinitely as she concentrated on her recovery. Addressing the backlash she received, she told Rolling Stone, “There was a bunch of hate, but you know what? F*** it. [Going away] was a decision that I had to make . . . What else was I going to do? Die? That was the reality of where my addiction was heading.” She added, “I chose to hurt myself and self-sabotage, and I also chose to get onstage and perform.” Despite how frightening the situation was, Lola expressed gratitude for it, calling it a necessary moment that helped her focus on building a better future and improving herself.
The British singer also revealed the outpouring of support she received from other well-known artists including Katy Perry, Elton John, and Lady Gaga, who reached out with messages of encouragement. Lola’s history with addiction includes previous rehab visits to overcome her cocaine dependency. Earlier this year, she celebrated significant professional success, being nominated for five Brit Awards and winning her first Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance with Messy. Following her Grammy win, she shared her plans to celebrate without drinking alcohol, even being seen enjoying an energy drink while partying with Shania Twain. Lola said, “I am going to have an In-N-Out burger with my manager and everyone. I don’t drink, but it’s going to be fun anyway.”
In 2022, Lola disclosed she had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at age 17, a condition combining symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorders like depression and mania. She spoke openly about the impact of this diagnosis on her life and mindset in an Instagram post: “I cant find the words to describe how much this diagnosis has affected my entire life, and my outlook on the world around me. I have struggled immensely learning to accept this part of myself, and I am still learning. I have to remind myself that I am a regular f****** person, I am human and I am, like everyone, capable of incredible things, my mental health condition does not define me. It is my superpower.” Her diagnosis came after years of misdiagnoses, initially believing she had clinical depression and bipolar disorder. She also shared that two uncles on opposite sides of her family had schizophrenia and both sadly passed away.
Lola suspects her schizoaffective disorder may have been partially triggered by using cannabis to cope with childhood trauma, although she has chosen not to reveal the specifics. She said she can often sense when a manic episode is approaching by the onset of strange thoughts and usually manages them with medication. However, she has sometimes been caught off guard, resulting in hospital admissions. The unpredictability of her illness makes touring extremely challenging, as she experiences episodes lasting weeks with little to no sleep. Lola also talked about the guilt, shame, and feelings of isolation following public episodes related to her mental health struggles.
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