Billie Eilish Reveals She’s ‘Been in Pain’ Since Age 9 from Joint Injuries: A Battle Against Her Own Body

Billie Eilish Reflects on Chronic Pain, Loneliness, and Finding Herself Again.

Despite being only 22, Billie Eilish has been battling pain since she was just 9 years old.

At only 22, Billie Eilish has dealt with physical pain and emotional challenges that seem beyond her years. In the November cover story for Vogue, the “Birds of a Feather” singer revealed that she has struggled with injuries for much of her life, largely due to hypermobility—a condition that allows her joints to stretch further than normal, causing discomfort.

“I’ve basically been in pain since I was 9,” she told the magazine, describing a sense of feeling “at war” with her body.

Growing up, she often heard people say, “‘Just wait until you’re older! You’re going to have so much pain!’” She remembers feeling “furious” hearing these remarks, as her own physical challenges began so early in life.

Eilish’s physical pain has been compounded by the emotional toll of life on tour. She admitted that performing for large audiences has often felt isolating. “I’ve had some really dark times on tour,” she shared. “For a long time I was kind of living like it was temporary. Like, yeah, I’m touring for now and it’s kind of unpleasant, and whatever. It’ll be over. And the truth is, it’s the rest of my life.”

Over time, however, Eilish came to realize that touring didn’t have to feel so grueling and that she had the power to make the experience more enjoyable. “I just was very lonely for many years, and I’m not interested in that anymore. I want to enjoy the show as well as my days,” she said.

"I just was very lonely for many years.."

Her struggle with depression has been a recurring theme, something she opened up about in an earlier interview with Rolling Stone. “My whole life, I’ve never been a happy person, really. I’ve been a joyous person, but not a happy person,” she said back in April.

Despite moments of joy and laughter, she explained, she often felt a profound sadness lurking beneath the surface. The “Bad Guy” singer hit a turning point, she revealed, when she realized, “Oh, my God, I haven’t had fun in seven years.”

This epiphany came despite the seemingly thrilling experiences of her meteoric rise to fame. Reflecting on her early success, she said, “I had this illusion that I had, because who experiences going to the Grammys at basically 17 and winning five? But in life, I realized I had really not experienced that much. I didn’t go outside for five years. How was I supposed to have any experiences?”

This need for reconnection with her authentic self has been at the heart of her latest project. Eilish explained that she’s been trying to return to how she felt in 2019, a time she called “the best time of my life.” Her third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, played a significant role in that process, helping her regain a sense of who she once was.

“This whole process has felt like I’m coming back to the girl that I was,” she reflected, speaking about the album’s creation. She’s spent time “grieving” for that girl, searching for her amid the pressures of fame and media attention. “I’ve been looking for her in everything, and it’s almost like she got drowned by the world and the media. I don’t remember when she went away.”

Billie continues to strive to find balance and joy.

Eilish’s journey to rediscover herself has been challenging, but she seems committed to finding balance and joy once again. Her physical and mental battles are part of what drives her to grow, and she’s determined to enjoy her life on her own terms. Through her music and her reflections, Eilish has shown a willingness to confront these struggles head-on, embracing a process of healing that brings her closer to the person she once was and aspires to be.