How Katy Perry Dealt With 'Situational Depression' After 'Witness' Album Release

The pop star revealed how she had to find her "soul foundation" at a spiritual retreat in order to cope with "situational depression" in a cover story for Vogue Australia.

Katy spoke about how attending the Hoffman Institute, a "personal growth" retreat, allowed her to "let go" after the album's not-so-nice reviews that "broke" her "heart."

"For years, my friends would go and come back completely rejuvenated, and I wanted to go, too," Perry told the publication regarding the retreat. "I was ready to let go of anything that was holding me back from being my ultimate self. I have had bouts of situational depression and my heart was broken last year because, unknowingly, I put so much validity in the reaction of the public, and the public didn't react in the way I had expected to ... which broke my heart."

"Music is my first love," she added. "And I think it was the universe saying: 'Okay, you speak all of this language about self-love and authenticity, but we are going to put you through another test and take away any kind of validating 'blankie.' Then we'll see how much you do truly love yourself.'"

"That brokenness, plus me opening up to a greater, higher power and reconnecting with divinity, gave me a wholeness I never had," Perry continued. "It gave me a new foundation. It's not just a material foundation: it's a soul foundation."

During the interview, which was written by Perry's close friend, Derek Blasberg, a fashion journalist, Blasberg treaded lightly when it came to her relationship with Orlando Bloom.

"It's okay to mention him," she said.

Blasberg brought up when the couple visited the Pope at the Vatican back in April and how most outlets focused on their relationship rather than her meeting the leader of the Catholic church.

"When Katy Perry, one of the world's most successful pop stars, meets with the Pope, arguably the most important man in organised religion, the pictures hit the internet and the resultant press has nothing to do with tolerance or spiritual enlightenment,"Blasberg wrote.

"I don't want it to be a headline of the story, because it takes away from the purpose," Perry said in response." Also, it's extremely misogynistic. Of course, I love my relationship, but that is one part of me, and I don't want any part of what I do to be diminished."

Vogue Australia's August 2018 issue featuring Katy Perry hits newsstands July 23.