Zara Larsson Opens Up About Anxiety, Body Image, and PMDD: Inside Her Health and Well-Being Journey

Mian Hamid September 26, 2025

Zara Larsson Opens Up About Body Image, Anxiety & Wellness: Inside Her Health Journey

Zara Larsson Opens Up About Anxiety, Body Image, and PMDD Inside Her Health and Well-Being Journey

Zara Larsson isn’t just known for her soaring vocals and chart-topping hits — she’s become a voice for emotional honesty, body acceptance, and the day-to-day challenges that come with life in the spotlight. From behind-the-scenes mental health battles to evolving self-acceptance, Zara’s wellness journey is as real as it is inspiring.

N E E D   T O   K N O W

  • 🎤 Zara Larsson admits she has severe PMS/PMDD, describing “really dark” days when she struggles to get out of bed.

  • 💬 She credits her sister as her “mental health advocate,” pulling her up when she feels low.

  • 🧘 The singer revealed she was once “really underweight” but is now focused on balance and eating for health.

  • 📱 Quitting Twitter/X has “elevated my mental health,” Zara said, reflecting on social media’s impact.

  • 🌙 She has also disclosed living with sleep paralysis, offering fans another look into her personal challenges.

  • 🌟 With her new Midnight Sun era, Zara embraces creative vulnerability while advocating for mental wellness and body acceptance.

Here’s a look at what Zara has shared publicly about her health, struggles, and how she’s learning to thrive on her own terms.

💬 Mental Health & Emotional Storms

Zara has spoken candidly about her anxiety and PMS (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD), especially how certain days she 

“can barely get out of bed.”

In an interview with Audacy, she described having a mental health “advocate” in her life — her sister — who instinctively knows when she’s slipping into darker moods and pushes her to get outside:

“I also have really really bad PMS, and I get really dark … she just knows, she drags me out of bed.” 

On social media and in interviews, Zara has admitted she sometimes avoids using wellness advice she knows would help (like walks, sunshine, greens) because when you're low, execution becomes difficult.

🧘 Self-Image, Body Pressures & Industry Battles

Zara Larsson Opens Up About Anxiety, Body Image, and PMDD Inside Her Health and Well-Being Journey

Zara has acknowledged that earlier in her career she was “really underweight” and that she’s since

“given herself the allowance to eat … be healthy.”

In The Independent, she revealed how mentors in the industry started commenting on her body once she turned 18 — a major turning point for how she viewed her autonomy and persona. In more recent times, she has spoken about how quitting Twitter/X has 

“elevated my mental health.”

Zara also grew up in a family she describes as “very naked” in mentality, which she credits with giving her a more neutral relationship to her body. Recently, she said she doesn’t view her body solely in sexual or aesthetic terms, even as she’s experienced fluctuations in weight.

🌙 Other Health Tidbits: Sleep, Paralysis & Routines

In 2017, Zara revealed she had experienced sleep paralysis, a condition in which a person is temporarily unable to move or speak when waking or falling asleep.

She has also shared her daily routines — how she structures her days for creativity, rest, and emotional grounding — though she admits not always following them when she feels low.

On her latest album Midnight Sun, Zara is leaning into a more introspective style. She has described the new songs as revealing emotional and mental terrain she hasn’t shared before, layering the upbeat production with deeper reflections on identity, insecurity, and growth. 

🌸 Zara Larsson’s Health and Well-Being Journey: A Timeline

Zara Larsson Opens Up About Anxiety, Body Image, and PMDD Inside Her Health and Well-Being Journey

2014 – Rise to Fame and Early Pressure

  • After her breakout hit “Uncover” and international recognition, Zara faced intense industry and public scrutiny.

  • She has spoken about the pressures of body image as a young pop star, noting how she struggled with eating properly while touring.

2016 – Opening Up About Body Image

  • Zara admitted she had been “really underweight” at one point due to stress and the demands of performing.

  • She later told Women’s Health UK: “I wasn’t eating well, I wasn’t sleeping properly. I was just pushing myself.”

  • This marked the beginning of her shift toward a healthier lifestyle, focused on balance and nourishment.

2018 – Living With Sleep Paralysis

  • Zara revealed in interviews that she suffers from sleep paralysis, a condition that causes temporary inability to move or speak while waking or falling asleep.

  • She described the episodes as “really scary” but learned to manage them through better sleep hygiene and stress reduction.

2020 – Quitting Twitter for Mental Health

  • During the pandemic, Zara candidly shared that she left Twitter/X to protect her mental well-being.

  • “Quitting Twitter elevated my mental health,” she explained, highlighting how stepping back from negativity online improved her headspace.

2021 – PMDD Struggles

  • Zara disclosed that she suffers from PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), a severe form of PMS.

  • She said: “Some days are really dark, I can barely get out of bed.”

  • She credits her sister for being a huge support system, calling her a “mental health advocate.”

2022 – Embracing Wellness and Balance

  • Zara emphasized that she no longer chases “perfection” but instead focuses on balance—healthy eating, regular movement, and allowing herself to rest.

  • She became vocal about self-love and body positivity, encouraging fans to embrace their bodies.

2024 – New Era of Confidence

  • While promoting her Venus and Midnight Sun projects, Zara shared that her creative process helped her feel more grounded and emotionally balanced.

  • She continues to advocate for mental health awareness, openly discussing anxiety, body image, and hormonal struggles.

(This article is based on interviews and reporting from AP News, PEOPLE, The Sun, and other sources up through September 2025.)

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