Britney Spears Discusses 2007 Meltdown and the Darkest Years of her Life

Britney Spears has finally gotten candid about her highly-publicized breakdown in 2007

“I think I had to give myself more breaks through my career and take responsibility for my mental health. There were many decisions that were made for me and that I didn’t make myself. My life was controlled by too many people and that doesn’t really let you be yourself. I was trying to please everyone around me because that who I am deep inside. There are moments where I look back and think: ‘What the hell was I thinking?'”

The 35-year-old pop superstar spoke with Israeli paper Yediot Ahronot ahead of her first-ever performance in Tel Aviv. She went on to say that she’s in “a better place” now. “My twenties were awful,” she admitted. “My thirties are much better for me. I’ve learned to get to know myself better.”

Check out the FULL interview below. (All quotes  translated to English via BreatheHeavy.)

What’s it like being Britney Spears?

“I’m sometimes in denial to the fact that I’m a celebrity. Deep inside I wish to be very private, which I believe I am. All this fame is way too much for me, as it’s really hard to grasp its magnitude. When you’re young and in the beginning of your career it’s understandable that you’ve just stepped into this world. But when you grow up and you look at this industry you’re like ‘huh? that’s crazy.’ I have these moments where I just want to dress up like a normal person and walk in the street. It goes through my mind quite a lot.”

If you could give 16-year-old Britney Spears one advice, what would it be?

“Very simple: Enjoy the moment. That’s something that’s really hard to understand when you’ve started young in this business.”

And that’s something you didn’t exactly do?

“Not really. I think I had fun when I was younger. I was a pretty normal girl, a tomboy. But my 20s were awful. My 30s are much better for me. I’ve learned to get to know myself better”.

What did you do wrong in your 20s?

“I think I had to give myself more breaks through my career and take responsibility for my mental health. There were many decisions that were made for me and that I didn’t make myself.”

You were “Overprotected…”

“Something like that. My life was controlled by too many people and that doesn’t really let you be yourself. In that situation, when your not in control, you become less excited, and there’s less passion when it comes to music. I wrote back then, that I was lost and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was trying to please everyone around me because that who I am deep inside. There are moments where I look back and think: ‘What the hell was I thinking?'”

Like the snake in the “Slave” VMA performance?

“That was pretty scary. Stupid even. I wouldn’t do that again.

When were you the toughest on yourself?

“The more exact question is when wasn’t I?”

In one of the more memorable moments of her career, Britney is seen driving with baby Sean on her lap, which turned into world news. She then blamed the paparazzi and confessed that she was very stressed.

“Those were the toughest years. I think the paparazzi took off the pressure after I didn’t leave my house for two years”.

I asked her if that was her biggest crisis in life, and she replies:
“Crisis is a strong word.”

“Each and every one of us that starts at a young age needs to take into account that you’ve gotta be balanced in order to stay in this industry and to manage your personal life. Sometimes that’s very challenging. I think I was very different back then, younger, not always knowing what’s good or bad, very instinctive. Today I’m at a better place in my life. My kids shaped my personality and filled me. They made me not worry about what was happening to me”.

If you could be unknown for a day and not have the paparazzi around, where would you go and what would you do?

“If I answer honestly, people would know where to find me. I’ll just tell you that my last Google search was ‘cool beaches to take kids to.’”

Is it harder for you in the pop industry that includes names like Beyonce, Rihanna and Taylor Swift?

“I don’t see it like you see it, the competition between us singers. I think we need to support each other from a place of women empowerment.”

Is it harder for you to create hits comparing to when you started?

“The musical world is just much more accessible to everyone”.

And here she is today, right after her ninth studio album ‘Glory’ that came out last year and sent her touring. On July 3rd she’ll arrive in Tel Aviv for a concert at Hayarkon Park that is expected to host 50,000 people.

“I’m very excited to visit Israel for the first time” she says.

And no politic group or singer asked you not to come?

“I actually only heard good things about Israel”.

Our readers chose “Oops…” “Baby One More Time” and “Born To Make You Happy” as your best songs, do you agree?

I love those songs but I have a few other favorites. And no, I don’t get tired of any of my songs”.

After you lose 3 kg, what’s your guilty pleasure?

“It changes, but it’s usually a chocolate Sundae.”

Not bad. By the way, in Carpool Karaoke you said you were over men. Is that true?

“Hey, that was a joke!”