Natalie Imbruglia has shared the distressing details of her experience with intense stage fright and perimenopausal symptoms during her recent tours, admitting she nearly resigned from her career due to the severity of her condition.
Describing the period as a “nightmare” for her team, Imbruglia explained that her sensitivity to sound became overwhelming. She noted that normal conversation felt like screaming and that she struggled to process simple questions. In one instance, when offered a choice between still and sparkling water, she reportedly replied, “That’s a question, and I can’t answer questions right now,” questioning later how diva-like such behavior appeared.
The anxiety escalated to the point where she confided in her co-writers, David Sneddon and Anu Pillai, the day after a concert. “Guys, I think I’m going to have to quit my job because I can’t cope with how I’m treating people before the show,” she told them. Rather than dismissing her concerns, they helped contextualize her fight-or-flight response.
Imbruglia realized she had been attempting to suppress her reactions through sheer willpower. By accepting that nervousness before a large performance was natural, she found she resisted the feelings less. This reflective process, which she likened to an impromptu therapy session, ultimately inspired her new song, “Upside Down.”
Beyond her personal struggles, the singer expressed frustration that perimenopause remains poorly understood, noting that many women are turned away by GPs when seeking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She also reflected on her own mother, who suffered through severe perimenopause while raising four children but never discussed it with Imbruglia. Acknowledging her own challenges with just one child, Imbruglia said she now views her mother’s experience with greater compassion.
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