Beyonce: I Was Headed for a Breakdown

Beyonce Knowles is admitting that during the early stages of her career, she was headed for a nervous breakdown.

In an interview with Gotham magazine, the former Destiny's Child singer says the heavy workload that comes with superstardom became so overwhelming that she feared for her health.

"Years ago, I was definitely headed for a breakdown," she said. "Just way too much work—my life was my career and I had no other life. It started when I was 15 and I hadn't learned the importance of balance, making sure I took a day off. I didn't know what 'no' was."

But the singer-actress and star of the upcoming film "Cadillac Records" says that as she got older, she learned about what kinds of things she can do to relax, and likes to unwind by painting with a glass of red wine.

"I know what I like now. It just takes life experience to get a good balance. When you're young, you don't know what relaxes you."

The star also uses her alter-ego, Sasha Fierce, to help her be more forceful and bold as well.

"I've learned to use Sasha for other things," she says. "Sometimes I have to be strong in meetings or in my everyday life. And now I've learned how to use that side of my personality and merge the two."

Click here to read the full report from Gotham magazine.