AJ McLean spoke candidly about the thing that helped him overcome his mental health trauma: his hosting gig.
The Backstreet Boys member, who has been open about his mental health struggles, scored a new hosting gig, "Fashion Hero: A New Kind of Beautiful." After receiving the opportunity, he revealed how it helped him cope with his issues.
AJ McLean Feels Better After Having the Hosting Gig
The new show will be launched to find the new face of A New Kind of Beautiful among the ordinary people who challenge the beauty industry standards.
In his interview with The Mirror, McLean shared how the chance helped him with his trauma.
"I could relate to every single contestant. We had 22 different countries, ages 19 to 65, from all walks of life, different religions, different genders, different backgrounds, whether it was dealing with mental health trauma abuse, body dysmorphia, all of it," he said. "And a lot of people don't know that I dealt with all of those same things."
McLean continued, "I've dealt with body dysmorphia. People don't know that but I have, I've dealt with depression, anxiety, mental abuse within myself, beating myself up, low self esteem insecurity."
Earlier this year, the musician told Us Weekly he checked in into an intensive outpatient program for mental health in Arizona to manage and treat his depression, anxiety and trauma, which he "never really taken the time to do" for himself.
He unveiled how the program helped him find himself and his self-worth. That way, his kids started seeing him in a different way.
McLean became a parent in 2012, and he shares daughters Elliot and Lyric with Rochelle McLean.
READ ALSO: AJ McLean Defends Nick Carter Amid Sexual Abuse Allegations: 'We Love Him'
Will the Backstreet Boys Reunion Happen?
Elsewhere in his interview with The Mirror, McLean set the record straight about the potential Backstreet Boys reunion featuring his bandmates Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough.
Per McLean, the reunion is currently not on the cards because they are "taking space from each other" to allow themselves to try new things outside the band.
"We're taking about a year off, we have a couple of one off things coming up," he shared. "We have our Cancun trip coming up next April, which essentially is like the Backstreet Boys cruise, except now it's a destination. So there's no boat involved."
READ MORE: Backstreet Boys' Reunion? AJ McLean Sets the Record Straight
