Beyonce Knowles-Carter revealed she struggles with insomnia — one of the symptoms of high-functioning autism.
In a cover story for Harper’s Bazaar magazine, the middle-aged singer says years of touring took a toll on her body in unhealthy ways. Now she struggles to get a good night’s sleep.
She told Harper’s Bazaar:
“I think like many women, I have felt the pressure of being the backbone of my family and my company and didn’t realize how much that takes a toll on my mental and physical well-being. I have not always made myself a priority.
“I’ve personally struggled with insomnia from touring for more than half of my life. Years of wear and tear on my muscles from dancing in heels. The stress on my hair and skin, from sprays and dyes to the heat of a curling iron and wearing heavy makeup while sweating on stage.”
An exhausted Beyonce is pictured at age 21 on July 2, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
READ ALSO: Beyonce hints she may be autistic: ‘I enjoyed the silence as a kid’
Fans speculated whether she was on the spectrum after she confided that the first decade of her life was “dedicated to dreaming”, because she was an introverted child who was slow to speak.
“I didn’t speak very much as a child,” the “Halo” singer said.
Children on the autism spectrum usually begin speaking at an older age than their peers.
The Destiny’s Child member said she counts the number of times she smiles per day.
“My health, the way I feel when I wake up in the morning, my peace of mind, the number of times I smile, what I’m feeding my mind and my body – those are the things that I’ve been focusing on. Mental health is self-care too.
“I’m learning to break the cycle of poor health and neglect, focusing my energy on my body and taking note of the subtle signs that it gives me. Your body tells you everything you need to know, but I’ve had to learn to listen. It’s a process to change habits and look past the bag of chips and the chaos everywhere!”
