Monday, August 18, 2014 3:32pm ET by  
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James Arthur reveals anxiety and depression struggle: 'I've come out of it the other side'

During a recent interview with Kiss FM, singer John Newman defended former 'X Factor' winner James Arthur, who has been going through a difficult time in the music industry over the past year, and explained he believes he "was thrown to the wolves" and that Arthur wasn't ready for a career in the public eye.

Arthur, meanwhile, has now responded to the comments made by the 'Love Me Again' star and agreed with everything that was said: "When you know who you really are, you can definitely be more yourself. John Newman is right, I was unprepared for the music industry. I've made mistakes but I'm really not going to dwell on that anymore. I'm looking to give people new music whether they want it or not, and it will be the best music I'll ever create."

"I'm in a great place to make music and be an artist and public figure again. It's been the biggest fight of my life - I've come up against it with anxiety and depression, but I've come out of it and on the other side, and I'm good. I'm really, really happy."

Arthur went onto add that battling anxiety and depression was incredibly eye-opening for him and has shown him that it's so important to speak up and not let it eat you alive inside: "I didn't know the magnitude of that disease until it really set in for me, and people who have it don't early know how to talk about it, or feel afraid to talk about it. And as soon as I did, it changed completely. I opened up to a few people and I'm now very happy with the person I am today. 

"I think people expect me to be really controversial, and that guy that was on Twitter when I was being really negative. I'm not that person anymore. I don't think I'd be very entertaining."

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Watch footage of Arthur performing at V Festival over the weekend here: