Joe Jonas Says His First Solo Album’s Poor Sales Led Him to Therapy After Experiencing Panic Attacks
Joe Jonas Says His First Solo Album’s Poor Sales Led Him to Therapy After Experiencing Panic Attacks
Jack IrvinWed, August 5, 2026 at 5:25 PM UTC
0
Joe JonasCredit: Jonas Brothers/Youtube -
Joe Jonas revealed on the Hey Jonas podcast that his first solo album’s underperformance led to panic attacks and his first experience with therapy
He shared how biking and avoiding social media initially helped but didn’t address the root of his struggles
Joe emphasized the lasting importance of therapy in his life for navigating major challenges and personal growth
Joe Jonas is opening up about his mental health.
On a new episode of the Hey Jonas podcast with his brothers Nick and Kevin, Joe opened up about how experiencing a lack of success with his first solo album, 2011’s Fastlife, led him to seek therapy for the first time.
“It didn’t do as well as I thought it would do because everything the Jonas Brothers touched back then, it would be, like, gold. It would be a number-one thing and a sold-out tour, and I put something out by myself, and I think I had a lot of high expectations of success without you guys,” said Joe of the album. “And that was important to me. Something in my core was like, ‘If I do that, then I matter.’ So obviously there’s a through line that’s wrong there.”
Fastlife charted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 following its release. The album featured the single “See No More,” which peaked at No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“I started having panic attacks and physical pain, and I would go to the doctor quite a bit and do full body checkups and blood work,” recalled Joe, whose doctor ultimately said he was “physically fine” and asked if he was open to therapy. “I was like, ‘I don’t need a therapist. Why would I need a therapist?’”
Therapy turned out to be necessary. “I was starting to put two and two together, and I was like, well, the only thing that would make me feel better — I was living in New York at the time — would literally be taking my bike and going for bike rides all day long where I couldn’t be on my phone and scroll, reading comments or seeing what was going on with that album. I think just being able to be outside and distract myself, but still running away from the problem,” he said.
Advertisement
“I finally spoke to somebody and, after crying through the first question for an hour, realized how great it was,” continued Joe.
The “Cake by the Ocean” artist also spoke about how therapy has remained important in his life. “I definitely can be better about consistency, but it definitely was so helpful during that season,” he said. “And it has been throughout my life for other major life things that I’ve gone through to just speak to somebody that’s a professional.”
He added, “Friends are great, family’s great, but there’s definitely an importance of a sounding board of somebody that you can speak to that will ask questions in a completely different setting.”
Joe released his second solo album, Music for People Who Believe in Love, in May 2025.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
