Being out in the spotlight have its advantages too, especially when fame and career success already caused burn out. That is what Liam Payne says after almost four long years of One Direction's hiatus.
The former member of the popular British-Irish pop boy band considers it a lesson and an experience he doesn't want to have again. One Direction's fame is undeniably the most sensationalized after forming and finishing third in the seventh series of the British televised singing competition The X Factor in 2010.
But despite having all those celebrities wished and hoped with their career, Liam Payne described the success of One Direction as "toxic" and boring. Given their complete schedule of concerts and tours, the pressure of being too popular and on the road doing hundreds of concerts consisting of only the "same 22 songs" has made him resort to drinking.
His alcohol abuse became a stress management tool whenever he doesn't feel like performing, or he is not happy, but still, he has an audience to entertain.
In a recent interview with Men's Health Australia, Liam Payne, 25 described the feeling as being "pissed quite a lot of the time because there was no other way to get your head around what was going on."
Sadly, his predicament goes on from 2010 until 2016, at the time when there was a lot of pressure in One Direction, and drinking is what he turned to for feeling better.
Liam Payne was in the band alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, whereas Zayn Malik left the pop group in 2015.
The Strip That Down hitmaker also revealed that he is naturally a pleaser to others and does not want to let people down; that is why he continued at the expense of his health.
And because of his tender age, he was seemingly naïve of getting help and realizing the damage it will cause him. Good thing, after One Direction's announcement to disband for an indefinite period, Liam Payne was able to move on and go back to his normal pace.
The English songwriter added that if one has a strong sense of identity and self-esteem, then "you don't care so much about what people think of you."
Liam Payne recognizes the hardships of his colleagues who are also experiencing trouble in mental health, which has been going on even in the early 1970s. The constant demands of the industry, exactly the boring repetition can wear out someone, something that is often a problem being in the spotlight.
Now Liam Payne has a chance to release music of his own (dropping the four-song EP First Time last summer) and raise Bear Grey, the 2-year-old son he shares with former girlfriend, Cheryl.
