Indian rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh is famously experiencing what many call his 2.0 version. The singer has delivered some of the biggest hits in Indian rap history. However, he has never shied away from talking about his darkest phases, including his battles with substance abuse and bipolar disorder.
During a recent conversation on the media, Honey Singh opened up about his severe mental health struggles. He revealed that the immense stress and medical treatments caused severe hair loss that left him completely bald. Consequently, the singer shared that he now wears a wig to cover it up.
The Physical Toll of Heavy Medication
Honey Singh previously hit rock bottom and completely disappeared from the spotlight at the absolute peak of his career. Speaking candidly about the toll his illness took on him, the Punjabi singer talked about the intense side effects of the heavy medication he took back then.
“I was on heavy medication for seven years. I became 105 kilos because of it, and I lost my hair completely. This is fake hair, I am totally bald. This is a wig,” he shared openly during the interview.
Recognizing the First Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Speaking on the podcast, he shared that the first signs of his illness appeared during a very busy period of his life. At the time, he was judging a music reality show and touring across the USA with actor Shah Rukh Khan.
He admitted that he used to smoke heavily without realizing that it was taking over his life and controlling him. While everything seemed to be happening perfectly on the outside, he began experiencing the onset of bipolar disorder. According to the singer, the condition started with a deep feeling of suspicion and an overwhelming fear of death and people.
The rapper explained that he suffered from constant, terrifying thoughts that he was going to die. This anxiety made him incredibly scared of performing on stage. He felt so certain that he would pass away during a show that he even shaved half of his head in an attempt to skip a performance. However, his team told him they would just make him wear a cap, leaving him feeling like no one understood his pain. As a result, he began locking himself inside a room, isolating himself entirely from his friends and family.
Finding a Purpose to Live Through a Spiritual Journey
Revealing how a spiritual awakening eventually helped him in his recovery, the singer admitted that he originally asked God for death because he was unable to control his internal struggles.
He recalled praying to God, apologizing for his past lack of belief, and asking for a way out because he was completely done with himself. However, instead of ending his life, that night marked a turning point. He did not get the death he asked for, but he instead found a brand-new purpose to live.