Joe Jonas reveals he experienced panic attacks after debut solo album release

Joe Jonas has opened up about experiencing severe panic attacks after his debut solo album, Fastlife, failed to meet his expectations, revealing that the experience ultimately led him to seek therapy.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Hey Jonas! podcast with his brothers Nick and Kevin Jonas, the singer reflected on the challenges he faced following the release of Fastlife in October 2011.

The album arrived around a year after the Jonas Brothers went on hiatus and received mixed reviews from critics.

Joe explained that the project marked the first time he felt he had fallen short of the level of success he had become accustomed to with the band.

"The reason I started doing therapy is because of the first taste of, like, not achieving 'success,'" he said. "I released a solo album when I was about 21, 22 and it didn't do as well as I thought it would do because everything the Jonas Brothers touched back then, it would be gold. We would just... be a number one (hit)."

The singer admitted he placed significant pressure on himself to prove he could succeed independently of his brothers.

"I put something out by myself, and I think I had a lot of high expectations of success without you guys," the 36-year-old recalled. "That was important to me somewhere in my core. I was like, 'If I do that, then I matter.'"

Joe said the disappointment eventually manifested in panic attacks and physical pain, prompting repeated visits to his doctor. It was during those appointments that he was encouraged to seek professional help.

"I was like, 'What do you mean a therapist? I don't need a therapist. Why would I need a therapist?'" he said. "I finally spoke to somebody after crying through the first question for an hour, realised how great it was. It definitely was so helpful during that season, and it has been throughout my life and other major life things that I've gone through."

Since then, Joe has released his second solo album, Music for People Who Believe in Love, in May 2025. He is also set to join the upcoming season of The Voice as a coach, with the series scheduled to premiere early next year.