Avril Lavigne
(Photo: Avril Lavigne Official Website)

After dropping the single "Head Above Water" from her upcoming sixth studio album, singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne has revealed how her battle with Lyme disease provided creative inspiration on the new song.

In a new interview with Billboard Magazine, Avril Lavigne revealed she was bedridden for two years after contracting Lyme disease, an infectious disease caused by the bite of an infected tick. At the time, the 34-year-old singer-songwriter had accepted that she was dying.

"I felt in that moment like I was underwater and drowning, and I was trying to come up to gasp for air," Avril Lavigne shared. "And literally under my breath, I was like, 'God, help me keep my head above the water'," she added.

In that moment, the composition of her new single, "Head Above Water," from his upcoming sixth studio album, began. The said song, her first in about five years, details her journey through her battle with Lyme disease.

It was in 2015 when news broke that Avril Lavigne had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. It all started when she felt unwell during "The Avril Lavigne Tour" in 2014, revealing she would wake up with night sweats and felt so exhausted to the point that she could not get out of bed.

Avril Lavigne immediately went to several doctors, all of whom misdiagnosed her. After it got worse, a friend suggested she call "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Yolanda Hadid who had been diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Thankfully, Yolanda Hadid gave her the number of a Lyme disease specialist. Since then, Avril Lavigne has been taking multiple antibiotics regularly. She is also advised to avoid unnecessary stress and have an ample rest.

Although she is not completely healed yet, Avril Lavigne cannot help but thank her family, close friends, ex-husband Chad Kroeger, frontman of the band Nickelback, and fans for the love and support she have been receiving since she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease.

 
Now, Avril Lavigne has added the Lyme disease into her foundation's supported causes. She apparently wants to shed light on the dangers of Lyme disease and help others prevent the same outcome. The foundation also provides prevention resources to connect with doctors who specialize in Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment.