Natalie Imbruglia has spoken candidly about the profound impact perimenopause had on her mental health, particularly exacerbating her stage fright and anxiety to the point where she considered quitting her career. The singer shared that the hormonal changes intensified her sensitivity to sound and her ability to process questions, leading to behaviors she described as a "nightmare" for her team.
During a tour, Imbruglia experienced severe anxiety before performances. She recounted instances where normal conversation felt like shouting and where she was unable to answer simple questions, such as a choice between still or sparkling water, stating, "That's a question, and I can't answer questions right now." She acknowledged the perceived "diva" behavior but emphasized her personal distress.
This heightened anxiety led her to confide in her co-writers, David Sneddon and Anu Pillai, expressing fears that she would have to leave her job due to her difficulty in managing her interactions before shows. They reportedly helped her reframe her experience, suggesting that accepting her nervousness as a natural response to performing might reduce her resistance to it. This conversation eventually inspired a song titled "Upside Down."
Imbruglia also expressed frustration with the lack of widespread understanding and support for women experiencing perimenopause, noting that many are dismissed by their general practitioners when seeking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She reflected on her own family history, realizing her mother likely endured similar struggles with anxiety, a fact she now views with greater compassion.
Imbruglia's latest album, her first since 2021, addresses the mental health challenges associated with perimenopause. She noted that while her own mother never discussed the subject, Imbruglia now understands the severity of her mother's experience given she was raising four children while dealing with significant anxiety.