Robbie Williams wishes he ‘felt empathy’.
Robbie Williams. photo by Ros O'Gorman
The 38-year-old singer has revealed that after struggling with depression, he is on medication that numbs his emotions.
The new father explained that despite being ‘happier and calmer’ than ever in his marriage to actress Ayda Field, he relies on the medical aide to keep him stable.
‘I’m on medication that’s sort of like, if the wife hurts herself in any way, I find it difficult to empathise. I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a shame’. I know what I should be feeling and I act appropriately, but inside I’m thinking, ‘I wish I felt this empathy but I don’t’,’ he told British magazine Shortlist. ‘It’d be nice to know if I actually am a sociopath or it’s the meds. I hope I’m not a sociopath. That’d be horrendous. But, mind you, I probably wouldn’t be bothered either way.’
Robbie also spoke about his battle with addiction.
The former Take That star has reportedly suffered from mental illness, alcoholism and substance abuse in the past and recalled the darker periods in his life.
He added that he felt the only person who could relate to his struggles was pop legend Sir Elton John.
‘In my twenties I was like, ‘This is fucking horrendous’ but I didn’t think I was going to die. The short period in my thirties I thought, ‘I’m just about to die and I don’t care’. In fact, it would have been a relief. But that’s where your fucking head goes when you’re taking loads of things you shouldn’t be taking,’ he said. ‘The only person I knew that understood anything about it was Elton John… After a big bender, it’d be [does phone hand gesture] ‘Elton’. How weird is that, when the only person you know that can help you is Elton John? [Laughs]’
