Why Iggy Azalea’s management staged an intervention

After a rocky few years, Iggy Azalea‘s mental state and career prospects were so dire that her management team staged an intervention.

“They were like … ‘We need you to go and speak to these people and make sure that you’re mentally prepared to come out with new music,’” the rapper, 27, told Billboard in an interview released Friday. “I didn’t want to go there — I didn’t like the idea of being sent away somewhere. I was pissed.”

Although Azalea was hesitant to go to on a “mental retreat,” she eventually relented and is glad she did. “I’ve never really sat down and had an honest conversation with professional people,” she said. “It was good to say something to somebody who could give me the tools and information on how to make my life manageable when I’m feeling those things.”

The rapper admitted she had to confront a number of issues that have plagued her since her 2014 breakthrough, especially how she coped with criticism. The change in attitude came after a slew of massive disappointments: her canceled 2015 tour, the public demise of her relationship with two tax liens and a string of singles that flopped.

“Before it was like, ‘We’re at the top of the mountain, and we have to stay at the top.’ I slid down the mountain a bit,” she admitted. “I have regrets … so many regrets. But …  I don’t beat myself up about it at the same time, because it, everything, was like landing on Mars. I just think it’s a lot for anybody to digest.”

Despite it all, the Aussie still has a few people in her corner.

“If I’m being honest, the only people who have been there for me are Charli [XCX, who sang the hook for her hit single ‘Fancy’], I’ll see them in passing and say hi, there’s no bad blood about that. But there definitely have been some people that I feel like, ‘OK, wow, you’re really gonna completely disassociate because of other people’s perceptions?’ Which is kind of wack as f—k, but I try not to dwell too much on those things, because I understand — you guys have your own brands, and you’re just trying to protect yourself.”

Azalea has since parted ways with Def Jam Records and signed with Island, where she says she hopes to make more sophisticated music. She also plans on addressing her struggles on her sophomore effort, whenever that comes out.

“I’m not on top anymore,” she admitted. “I’m still here, cleaning up the mess now. At least now, though, I have some perspective on it. And I will say that’s good, because it’s hard to resolve things with anything when you’re still in the thick of it.”