Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale Opens Up About Her Experience with Anxiety and Impostor Syndrome

In recent years, many people – including musicians – have been quietly struggling with mental health issues. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Sound Mind is back with a new episode of its signature series Unmasked.

In the latest episode, Halestorm’s lead singer, Lzzy Hale, describes her experiences with anxiety and imposter syndrome.

Since co-founding the band in their teens, Hale has quietly established herself as a powerful vocalist, skillful and dynamic guitarist, and influential force at the forefront of a loyal fanbase. To date, the group has notched two consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200, namely Into the wild life (2015) and malicious (2018).

Not only have they headlined sold-out shows worldwide, but they’ve also shared the stage with the likes of Eric Church, Joan Jett and Alice Cooper. In recent years, Lzzy’s reach has expanded into a television personality and an advocate for women and mental health. In fact, Hale is a member of the GRAMMY® Mental Health Panel.

“Although we have made great strides over the past few generations in breaking down the stigma that has long sidelined mental health, many of us still find it difficult to find a safe space,” she said. “Personally, I’ve suffered from depression — the feeling of being trapped at the bottom of a well watching the world go by without me — as well as debilitating anxiety and impostor syndrome. These are battles I still fight on a daily basis, and by being honest and vulnerable with my own struggles, I want to give hope to others. You are not alone.”

Unmasked features a series of short video profiles exploring mental health issues through the eyes of music’s biggest stars, spanning genres such as hip-hop, rock and pop. Each artist speaks about their personal experiences with a variety of mental health issues such as substance abuse, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and more.

This series is especially important because it reminds music fans that life isn’t perfect for their favorite artist. When we all work together, we can foster a community that removes stigma while promoting empathy and understanding of mental health.
Check out Lzzy Hale in the latest episode of Unmasked and stay tuned for more from Billboard.