In a candid new interview, Adam Lambert opened up about his struggles with anxiety.
Lambert, who was runner-up for "American Idol" season 8, told Hunger magazine he's thankful that mental health is "becoming less taboo for people."
"I've definitely dealt with my share of anxiety," the 40-year-old rocker said. "What's great is that the more we all talk about it, the more we realize it's pretty common, especially in this day and age. Especially after the year and a half we've had. Anxiety's real. It's a beast."
Lambert, known for his collaborations with Queen, added that the pandemic likely exacerbated anxiety for many people -- including those who had never experienced it before.
"A pandemic is not the most relaxing thing in the world," he said. "It's not a vacation."
The "Whataya Want From Me" singer admitted he hasn't "gone into a lot of detail" about his mental health, but said honest conversations about it shows those suffering in silence know that help is out there.
"I think it's really important not to feel like there's something wrong with you. I think it's more common than we all realize," he said. "It's now becoming more of a conversation, but I think for people that are older it’s been a taboo thing. This is all cliché, but it is okay to ask for help."
"I feel some people think that if they don't ask for help then it's not real. So, people avoid admitting themselves and getting the help they need because they're in denial," Lambert added. "You've got to be real with yourself and honest with yourself."