Kim Petras Says She Needed Therapy After Success of 'Unholy': 'It's an Essential Tool'

Kim Petras is getting candid about life in the limelight. 

In a new cover interview with Cosmopolitan UK published Friday, the singer, 31, confessed that she turned to therapy after “Unholy” — her Grammy-winning track with Sam Smith — blew up her profile. 

“Therapy was necessary for me after having a huge song, to learn how to shut everything off,” Petras told the publication. “I had a therapist in my teen years and stopped when things got busy. But I missed having someone to let everything out to. I recommend therapy to everyone; it’s an essential tool ... The music industry can get very hectic.”

The star went on to admit that her collaboration with Smith, also 31, and the attention that came with it “took over my life.” 

“It was insane,” she noted. “Suddenly I was traveling a lot, and there were more eyeballs on me than ever before. It felt like a huge breakthrough, as it shifted the music industry’s perception of me and what I could do.”

Along with therapy, Petras also credited Smith for helping her deal with fame and being in the public eye.

“Sam’s such a wonderful person, and has been my coach in a lot of ways,” she told Cosmopolitan UK. “If I feel in a crisis, or read something about myself that I can’t deal with, I’ll text or call them. That level of media attention is really scary; it forced me to grow as a person, and it’s so inspiring to see Sam be able to brush that off.”

She added of their song winning a Grammy for best pop duo/group performance at last year’s ceremony, “It was a huge honor, and I’m very grateful for that whole experience. But nothing can prepare you for that level of attention. It felt exposing and scary. Suddenly, a lot of people who wouldn’t usually listen to my music were digging up my origin story.”

Petras and Smith became the first openly trans and non-binary artists, respectively, to take home the award in the category. 

The duo also performed their hit track at the ceremony and were introduced to the stage by none other than Madonna.  

During an interview with PEOPLE last year, Petras revealed the encouraging words that the iconic singer, 65, shared with her before the performance.

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"I was so nervous. I was freaking out," said Petras. "After her speech, she turned around and mouthed to me, 'Go get it, bitch.' That made me feel like, I got this."

"I feel like I have a special connection with Madonna too because I always felt like she pushed gender, and she wasn’t necessarily only super-feminine or super-masculine, and she just is Madonna," Petras added. "I think Madonna gave me a lot of hope and strength and stuff when I needed it, even as a kid."

The April/May issue of Cosmopolitan UK is on sale starting Tuesday, March 19.