...clinical anxiety (common in many performers, however, occasionally escalating to panic attacks outside the performance arena), symptoms of depression such as self-reproach, poor sleep, guilt and sadness (masked by his anxiety but potentially serving as a root cause) as well as feelings of low self-worth (due to an underlying level of low self-esteem resulting from childhood experiences of abandonment, ridicule and difficulty relating to others)?

A friend once told me that Prince's journey was a diverse one, allowing for plenty of time to think, plenty of time to relax, plenty of time to fret, plenty of time to groove, plenty of time to regret, plenty of time to expect, plenty of time to feel, plenty of time to hurt, and plenty of time to heal. And as is true almost always with Prince, no matter how angered, troubled, depressed or stressed the music gets, he always finds a way to end it with some level of hope and resolution.

On that note, would you listen to N.E.W.S. or Planet Earth, for example, with a different mindset?

love

I'm sure he does and has suffered from depression at sometimes in his life. Looking back I don't see how it could have been avoided. He lost his Mother,Son, Father and wife all within years of each other. Not to speak of stresses associated with his talent and everyday things. It may have driven other men to drink, drugs or suicide.

I would feel just the same, to be honest. Prince is a fully functioning human being who has taken his fair share of knocks, what with the loss of his parents untimely death of a child and a couple of messy divorces behind him not to mention a string of failed relationships during the past three decades and all the shit he gets from the press not to mention all the bloody awful exposes written about him... We all go on about what sheltered lifestyle he has become accustomed to over the years, but the question surely must be is such a lifestyle an effective protection from all that crap? I doubt it.

Handel said:

It couldn't help, that's right, but he's doing the best he can to lead a 'normal' life at least.

Some examples? No world tours (so far), sueing fans to stop unauthorized publicity of image through the internet. Just to mention some.

It's my opinion that these things he's doing over the last three years are meant to secure him a calm and not troubling future.

Boo Freakin Hoo. I can't say I feel much sympathy who has the world at their disposal. There are plenty of us poor folk who suffer the same, and we have no choice but to deal with it.

I can sense Prince becoming more and more withdrawn from the hassles of fame, maybe even society. I've seen it happen to so many other celebrities as they get older and time goes on. He'll just get tired of the hassle and opinions, Prince was at his peak 25 or 30 years ago he doesn't owe anybody anything. I can't say I'd be surprised or blame him if he never really came back.

Dayclear said:

Let's hope it's not happening any time soon... even though it could happen, ya know, any time.

People that limit Prince's emotions to only those that stem from his personal experiences...do not know the man that is affected by..."Evil Incorporated."

People that love the human race...although extremely disliking certain behaviors, will suffer from anxiety in attempt to fix things, and depression, from the weight of carrying the World's problems and injustice's.

My mindset toward Prince will always be that he loves...he cares...
Joy and Sorrow are plentiful...Until those that are concious of all of this...make Paradise....Prince will be one of those responsible for drying a tear of another...Thank God 4 him.

Are you asking if I'd "cut Prince some slack" on works I don't care for - because of his mental state?

Simply put - no. I mean...we don't know his mental state. And presumably, said mental state would vary over the weeks and months it takes to put together an album...right?

I'm also someone (perhaps because I work in a creative job and have creative avocations, as well) who can separate the person from the work. I didn't particularly care for Planet Earth, but it doesn't diminish my respect for Prince as an artist. I just figure he didn't write those songs for me (not personally, but as his audience). Sure, I wish he had...but there's plenty I love (like N.E.W.S) that others don't. He's done pretty well by me.

I have seen absolutely no indication that Prince suffers from performance anxiety. Frankly, someone who does would never put that much energy into taping rehearsals, performances, videos and a gazillion other projects that no one will ever see. If anything, I think he is probably happier and feels more "himself" onstage than anywhere. That man loves the camera - as long as he controls it.

If anything, I'd say his personal life is the emotional minefield. But as I've opined before, I think he likes that, too. Or, at least, he deals with it because he feels he gains more than he loses by it. A full emotional life gives an artist a lot to draw on.

I suffer from seasonal depression and bouts of anxiety, and that never gave me license to treat my clients poorly. Fuck Prince.

Tame said:

That was beautifuly put Tame.
Depression is a common ailment and everybody deals with it the best way they can. I Prince today and will him tommorrow. Fortunatly for him he has his music to not only self-medicate but to help all us others out there dealing with life's daily bullshit! Rock on Prince, I'm ready for my dosage!

I am sure Prince has suffered from forms of depression as had many other people.

I have seen over the course of his career Prince learn how to manage his own feelings and life choices. I am glad he has improved over the years.

Being the artist that he is he seems to be able to channel emotions thru his music, music is the language he communicates with. If he is going thru some depressions it will come out in the songs. Whether he releases the material to the public is his choice. We may never know the extend he has had anxieties and really is it none of our business anyway.

I just hope that Prince has learned to love himself more, and stay peaceful.
I am sure he has already.

Imago said:

Go soak your head, Imago!

Imago said:

-----
Since when did fans become clients Are any of us paying P to perform some or service or provide us with a product on a on going basis.

I do not have a service or product contract with Prince.

Not another "If Prince would die/have a clinical condition/or did this that or another" thread....

laurarichardson said:

Think about it for one sec, technically we are his "clients" in a way.We PAY him(ticket price) to perform for us at concerts. We PAY for the albums he makes on a ongoing basis and the merchandise they come out with(even past things sold on Ebay). Rether we know or want to admitt it or not we PAY in one form or another

laurarichardson said:

customers, clients, new-power-butt-puppets---I can play the semantics game all day if you'd like.
But you're such a [Name calling snip - luv4u] I don't think it matters much actually.

toots said:

seriously. What if what if what if. Who cares? What Prince slapped yo mama? What if Prince pees sitting? What if Prince impregnated The queen of england?

Prince...baby, it SLOW around here. Get your anxious ass UP. and tour or make a cd. Please!

ToraToraDreams said:

Seriously... the threads in here are getting to be scary..

Some folx here have lost it and others are losing it... Prince please help and give us some more music to discuss !

Imago said:

-----
Seek help soon for your issues.
[Edited 8/7/08 2:19am]

Imago said:

WTF why the hell are you on the org. Where the hell do you get off thinking Prince owes us anything? Just because we exercise our own free will lining his pockets? I don't know about anybody else but I never received a contract to guarantee his services. I am not a client I am a fan. Speaking from personal experience there are so many levels of anxiety and depression. Who are you to judge!!!!! Again WTF?
[Edited 8/7/08 2:48am]

I thought you were gonna say that he suffers from high blood pressure.






emoticon edit I spelled 'whew' wrong.
[Edited 8/7/08 2:52am]

DesireeNevermind said:

Thanks...and ya know...with those that do struggle with emotional disorders...It is most likely because they lack the outlet for self-expression..
People need to live out their inner emotions through some kind of medium to be understood. Otherwise, it leads to alienation, and the dependency...that takes away from self worth.
Artistic expression is self-medication, as well as having the opportunity to heal other's.
There is no pill to take for anxiety or depression, that can compare to taking in music that naturally uplifts the spirit.
I believe the world is beginning to understand this...and hopefully dependency on drugs, or the abuse of drugs will end, when physical(Sports) or artistic expression...is taken more seriously within the education system...The curriculum in schools is too limited in these areas. Attention Deficit Disorder...is the perfect example, of the reaction to a supressed desire for expression.