‘It’s only making music that does this to me’: Lewis Capaldi reveals impact of Tourette’s on career
Lewis Capaldi has opened up about the impact of his Tourette’s on his career, revealing how his tics are getting “pretty bad” on stage, as he fears he’ll have to “package music” if it does “irreparable damage”.
The 26-year-old singer opened up about his health ahead of the release of his documentary How I Feel Now, admitting that making music can make his symptoms worse.
Lewis said he was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome in September, adding that he wanted to go public because he “didn’t want people to think I was doing cocaine.”
Devastated fans took to social media to hear the news that Capaldi’s singing career is at risk, with one commenting: ‘That would be a huge loss! He is an amazing talent, genuine and down to earth!’
Another wrote: ‘God loves him’ alongside a crying emoji.
Fears: Lewis Capaldi has admitted there is a ‘very real possibility’ he may have to give up his career as a pop star if his Tourette syndrome worsens
Devastated: Responding to an Instagram post about the star possibly having to end his music career, heartbroken fans expressed their sadness at the news
Someone else commented: ‘It’s unbelievable, it must come at a huge cost and if he gets to that point, well nothing is worth more than good health, but at least I hope he finds a way to carry on in some way that works for him. we do not.’
They added: ‘We need to accept people who are neurologically different (not less different) and let them live their best lives. Look what we’re missing!
In another post, a fan wrote: ‘Love @LewisCapaldi for everything he’s doing for @tourettesaction. Hopefully many of the devices will be available soon.
Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by a combination of noises and involuntary movements called tics.
Speaking about how he deals with the condition, Lewis admitted that acting can make his symptoms worse and shared his fears of having to give up music.
He explained that there is a “real possibility” that he may have to abandon his career as a pop star if he starts causing “irreparable damage” to himself.
told him frankly The times: ‘Just making music does this to me, otherwise I can be fine for months at a time, so it’s a weird situation.
Health: The singer, 26, opened up about his health ahead of the release of his documentary How I Feel Now and admitted that making music can make his symptoms worse
Relatable: Other fans have related to Capaldi’s struggles with Tourette syndrome, commenting on how much his revelation about the neurological disorder helped them or a loved one.
‘Right now, the compensation is worth it, but if it gets to a point where I’m doing irreparable damage to myself, I’ll quit.
“I hate the hyperbole, but it’s a very real possibility that I might have to pack music.”
Lewis also said his parents, nurse Carol, 56, and fishmonger Mark, 56, also fear for his health as his symptoms worsen and they wonder if he should give up music.
The Grace hitmaker said her Tourette has made performing live, the part of her job she most enjoys, more challenging as her tics are getting “pretty bad” on stage.
He said that playing the guitar helps him, but admitted that he doesn’t like playing the instrument and shared how crucial it is for him to be able to control his tics on stage.
Fans helped the star in February by singing his hit Someone You Loved for him in Frankfurt when he experienced Tourette’s symptoms mid-show.
In the now-viral clip, Capaldi can be seen walking away from the microphone as he struggled with his head and shoulder shaking uncontrollably.
Support: Lewis Capaldi fans finished singing his hit Someone You Loved in Frankfurt after the star experienced Tourette’s symptoms mid-show.
Revealed: The Scottish musician, 26, said he had the neurological condition, characterized by a combination of noises and involuntary movements called tics, last year.
However, the audience quickly showed their support for the star and continued to sing the song en masse.
Capaldi then appeared to regain his composure as he continued with the performance.
More recently, the star also opened up about suffering from body spasms while performing live in her new Netflix documentary.
Before receiving the diagnosis, he had experienced shoulder spasms that he explained eventually “got out of control.”
“I didn’t know what it was at the time,” Capaldi revealed in the new film, Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now.
He said: ‘This tic got out of control, and it was horrible. It was absolutely horrible. I started to get in my head about these pressures. ‘F***, there’s skin in the game now.’ Instead of me just singing my silly little songs. Other people depend on me.
Capaldi has now detailed his other health issues as well, as he revealed that he has also been suffering from vertigo after coming down with bronchitis and coming off the anti-anxiety drug Sertraline.
Vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition in itself, and is the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning.
Reflecting on his difficulties, Lewis said that being famous is “easy”, but it is the pressure of performing in big venues on long tours that is “anxiety-inducing”.
His comments come after Lewis revealed he feared he might not be able to return to acting after his mental health issues and spasms “got out of control.”
Candid: His comments come after Lewis revealed he feared he would never act again after his mental health issues and spasms got ‘out of control’
Speaking in his upcoming Netflix documentary, the singer admitted that he began to suffer from excruciating back pain that left him unable to even write new music.
In scenes from the show, obtained by the daily starLewis confessed that he has a hard time remembering his 2020 tour because he was “so scared” and started having severe panic attacks.
He said: ‘The spasms got out of control, it was horrible, absolutely horrible. I started thinking about that, you know, these pressures on things. Instead of just singing my silly songs, other people depend on me.
‘My contraction worsens when I sit down to play the piano, physically painful. And I’m very short of breath and it’s like my back is killing me when I go to do it.
Detailing his panic attacks, the BRIT Award winner added: “I feel like I’m going crazy.” Completely disconnected from reality.
I can’t breathe. I get dizzy. I’m sweating, my whole body starts to convulse. Either I feel like I’m going to be stuck with it forever or I’m going to die.’
Later, Lewis sought help from a therapist, who suggested that his anxiety might stem from the loss of his grandmother and his aunt’s suicide.
After undergoing further tests, Lewis revealed that he was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, which offered him some much-needed relief, helping him reduce his anxiety levels and alleviate his symptoms.
Lewis is set to release his raw and honest feature-length music documentary, How I’m Feeling Now, on Netflix on April 5th.
She watches him speak candidly about his mental health struggles, Tourette’s diagnosis, and life in the spotlight.
Talking about the film on Instagram, he wrote: “The film is called ‘How I’m Feeling Now’ and is named after a song I wrote, which will be released at midnight on March 17.
“It’s the last song I wrote for my next album and it’s a tune that’s about something I’ve never written about in my music before, which is my mental health.”