Elle King Opens Up About Her Battle With PTSD and Depression

Singer Elle King remains one of the most open and honest celebrities in showbiz. In the aftermath of her whirlwind romance with soon-to-be ex-husband Andrew Ferguson, the “Exes and Ohs” singer got candid about their secret marriage and subsequent split via her Instagram account. Now she’s taking to the same platform to share her story about PTSD, depression, and how she’s getting help.

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I made a decision yesterday that was a really fuckkng hard one. I'm slowly learning that prolonging and putting off that inevitable and looming painful decision or choice ... ONLY CREATES MORE PAIN. AND YOURE LITERALLY JUST SITTING IN IT. I made that hard choice yesterday, and for a while it felt like my life was over. But today, while working through my PTSD with my doc, I felt that door inside of me open up just a little bit more. It used to be covered in caution tape and red lights flashing DO NOT OPEN. But I felt a cool little breeze and it wasn't as scary peeping through. I also realized that PTSD and/or depression FOR ME, and I say for me because I can only speak for myself, is like a trip on LSD. For those of you who haven't dropped acid.....it's really strong, so take a lot. Jk but for real it's gr8✌🏻👅🌈 but I realized that when I've been in an altered state I HAVE had weird moments and scary thoughts. But I snap out of it through the clarity and ease of the fact that A. everything is going to be ok. 2. Dude you're on fuckin acid man. 😝 In those times all I had to do was refocus and take back control of MY OWN MIND. Today, if presented with two options, I will CHOOSE the one that is most beneficial and happy for me right then and there. I'll make some healthy choices. Today I'll drink water and say something nice about myself. I brushed my teeth sooosososo good too. I might even hug myself. But I'm definitely going to love myself. Just like I love all of you!!!✌🏻❤️😘👅

A post shared by Elle King (@elleking) on Jul 1, 2017 at 4:23pm PDT

In a heartfelt post, King discussed working through the effects of depression and PTSD with her therapist. “I’m slowly learning that prolonging and putting off that inevitable and looming painful decision or choice … ONLY CREATES MORE PAIN. AND YOU’RE LITERALLY JUST SITTING IN IT,” the singer wrote.

“But today, while working through my PTSD with my doc, I felt that door inside of me open up just a little bit more. It used to be covered in caution tape and red lights flashing DO NOT OPEN. But I felt a cool little breeze and it wasn’t as scary peeping through,” she added. “I also realized that PTSD and/or depression FOR ME, and I say for me because I can only speak for myself, is like a trip on LSD.”

“Today, if presented with two options, I will CHOOSE the one that is most beneficial and happy for me right then and there. I’ll make some healthy choices. Today I’ll drink water and say something nice about myself. I brushed my teeth sooosososo good too. I might even hug myself. But I’m definitely going to love myself. Just like I love all of you!!!”

King’s admission comes during what the singer has dubbed her “birthday week.” Since yesterday, the star has been posting snippets of her birthday celebrations, including an ode to the year that was.

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Dearest 27, You're one for the fucking books. It's hard to find the words if you're trying to sum up everything you could possibly ever imagine all shaken up and then exploding everywhere on everything even the mop and all the towels. So you try to clean up the whole thing but it's so hard when everything is already covered in it so you kind of just roll around in it and slowly but surely, right when you think you might drown because you've been swimming so long in the dark...this beautiful sun rises above you slowly and everything's warm and it's all dry and clean and you feel your laugh come back to you as you shake all that dust from your body from your heart from your soul. And then, There you are. I can feel her right there in my chest. But she's new. She's curious and open and optimistic. I didn't know one person could get the chance to feel this many things in a lifetime. Let alone one year. It's funny to look back on what your younger self would call a hard year. Haha. Oh I wish I could tell her to slow down. But I don't judge her. I understand her more. She was reaching for something. But you have to jump through those hoops of fire! Because you either get burned and it hurts, and you know you'll heal one day but there's gonna be a pretty bad scar, or you do a flip and kick and then high five somebody as you're walkin away looking suuuuper cool. Whatever the outcome, at least you fucking went for it. I dove head and heart first into the most wonderful adventure of life. I truly fell in love. As I dip my toe into the wise old age of 28, I can see how much the definition of love can change in a heartbeat. I got married!To my darling Love Fergie, thank you for loving me and I'm excited and honored to have the opportunity to redefine love for us, as friends. But I'm excited to get to know myself. I'm scared. I hope she likes me. I hear she's pretty fun to party with. A Heart broken left open is a dangerous thing. But I hate rules. And I fucking fought this depression and will continue to do so. I love myself now and no one can ever take that away from me. So, 28 bring it on.

A post shared by Elle King (@elleking) on Jul 3, 2017 at 6:52am PDT

“As I dip my toe into the wise old age of 28, I can see how much the definition of love can change in a heartbeat. I got married! To my darling Love Fergie, thank you for loving me and I’m excited and honored to have the opportunity to redefine love for us, as friends. But I’m excited to get to know myself.” Wise words on anyone’s birthday.

Have you ever used your birthday to make a major life change? Tell us @BritandCo!

(h/t E!Online; photo via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty)