Leona Lewis has opened up about suffering with depression last year, via an open letter on Twitter.
The X Factor star spoke about the ‘extreme downs’ she experienced after leaving Simon Cowell’s record company Syco.
The 29-year-old wrote: “It has been quite the rollercoaster year. The emotions I've felt have been more powerful, in both a positive and negative way, than anytime I've ever felt in my life.
“At some points I felt extremely depressed and other times experienced amazing highs, but it got to a place where the downs were outweighing the ups. So I'm writing this letter for anyone who has ever felt the same way.”
Leona is now signed to Universal's Island Records and although she was 'terrified of walking away' from Syco, she felt it was the right thing to do after they clashed over her fifth album.
She explained: “I was asked to make a record that would not have been true to myself... I cannot make music that does not speak to my soul, and as scary as it seemed, I could no longer compromise myself, and so I decided to leave.”
She added: 'The end of a relationship can really burn but underneath it all, there is still love there.'
Leona concluded her two-page letter on a positive note, writing: “I chose to swim... I'm not sure where I'll end up but one thing I am certain of is I've stayed true to myself.
“I've followed what my heart says is right. So whatever the future may bring, I am ready.”