Gracie Abrams is opening up about her not-so-distant past.
The singer pulled back the curtains on a chapter of life in which she recently effected a change, shedding light on what prompted her decision. She noted that she has turned down the pipes on the level at which she indulges in smoking weed.
Gracie Abrams has channeled her battles with substance use and abuse through her music. She has also been open about her struggles with anxiety and stage fright as a rising music artist.
In a recent podcast appearance, the singer disclosed that she has mostly given up on smoking weed. She gave fans a glimpse into the realization that struck her before she made the decision to peel back from the habit.
Speaking with Jake Shane, who also shared his story on the Therapuss podcast, she noted that she has seen a difference since putting a halt to the habit. The conversation began after the podcast host asked if Abrams smoked, to which she replied, “I don’t right now very much at all. To be completely honest.”
The Grammy-nominated singer revealed that she had a period, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she struggled. Admitting that she has not sworn off it completely, she shared that there are times she views smoking weed as “the best thing.”
The Singer Shared The Reason Behind Cutting Down On Smoking Weed
Abrams told Shane that one major reason she does not smoke as much is that she wants to be available to the people in her life. The singer also noted that, in addition to this, she wants the freedom to respond to opportunities; hence, she prefers the spontaneity that comes from using the substance far less.
The “That’s So True” artist shared that she realized smoking weed “will keep me as if I’m handcuffed to the couch,” while these days, she prefers “the freedom of feeling mobile and able more than [she prefers] the handcuffed-to-my-chair feeling.”
Shane also opened up about why he quit smoking. He said that he got inspired to stop the habit after singer Role Model came on the show and revealed that he had stopped smoking.
Gracie Abrams Hinted At Her Battles With Substance Abuse In Songs
In the second single “Look At My Life” from her album “Daughter From Hell,” Abrams revealed that even nepo babies have struggles. She sings, “I’ve been thinking through the hard stuff/ Over light drugs like every night.”
She also talks about battling with loneliness, telling listeners that looks can be deceiving. “Oh well, look at my life/Bet you can’t tell but it’s kind of a bad time/ a new spiral every night”
In the second verse of the song, Abrams talks about peer pressure and the influence of doing drugs just because the people around are doing it. She said in a previous interview that she hopes her listeners learn to embrace every part of themselves.
“You have the right to feel discomfort, longing, heartbreak, or confusion, but you also have the right to feel radiant, full of light, love, friendship, and a spirit of adventure,” the musician said, as reported by The Sun.
The Budding Artist Battles Anxiety
Abrams, in a discussion about her mental health issues, revealed a panic attack she had so terrifying that she almost checked into a hospital. She disclosed that the incident occurred while she was gearing up to promote her album “Daughter From Hell.”
The singer got overwhelmed looking at her schedule, packed with touring events and interviews. The physical symptoms of the anxiety weighed on her so intensely that she almost visited urgent care before eventually dissociating.
In her interview with Rolling Stone, Abrams, who has built her career by writing deeply personal songs, came clean, sharing that she took a beta blocker before one interview because the anxiety remained in her body.
Anxiety has been a part of the 26-year-old’s life since her early days. She revealed that she grew up as a shy, self-critical kid who was often afraid despite appearing confident.
During her teenage years, songwriting became the outlet through which she processed difficult emotions. Abrams also admitted to using marijuana to avoid confronting uncomfortable feelings.
Gracie Abrams Previously Detailed ‘Hard-Core’ Stage Fright
In 2024, Abrams told Q’s Tom Power how much she enjoyed singing and songwriting, but onstage performances were not part of the equation. She revealed that she often panicked, and her stage fright was so bad that she would vomit before getting on stage.
“It was real anxiety, like hard-core, not cute for sure,” she explained. With time, Abrams went from “puking for 12 hours in the middle of the night” to performing on some of the biggest concert stages in the world; she opened for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour.
The singer worked on her fears during the pandemic from her bedroom, performing for smaller crowds on Zoom shows. With that practice, she was able to adjust to the concept of playing in front of people, and by the time the quarantine was over, Abrams gave her first-ever live show.
Will Gracie Abrams say goodbye to smoking weed completely?
