Armin van Buuren Opens Up About Depression, Addiction, and the Dark Side of Being the World's Number One DJ

The essentials

1. 01The Dark Side of DJ Success: “The money is true, the crowds are true, but there’s a dark side that we don’t share.” In a candid conversation with Seth Troxler and Bill Patrick on Flirting with Friendship, Armin van Buuren opens up about depression, addiction, and the struggles hidden behind life as one of the world’s most successful DJs.
2. 02Success Doesn’t Guarantee Happiness: “I had everything. Happily married, touring the world, little one on the way, making good money, enjoying my life.” Armin van Buuren recalls falling into depression in 2010, despite seemingly having it all. A reminder that fame, money, and living your dream don’t make anyone immune to mental health struggles.
3. 03When One Drink Becomes a Bottle: Armin van Buuren reveals how drinking before performances gradually escalated from one glass of champagne to calm his nerves to an entire bottle before stepping on stage. What begins as a way to manage pressure can slowly develop into dependency, sometimes without realizing how far things have gone.
4. 04The Hidden Cost of Life Behind the Decks: Jet lag, sleepless nights, constant travel, performance pressure, adrenaline highs, and emotional crashes. Add an environment where drugs and alcohol are often readily available, and it’s easy to understand why DJing can take a serious toll on mental and physical health, even when the career looks like a dream.
5. 05Avicii Changed the Conversation: Armin van Buuren reflects on how Avicii’s passing helped make conversations about mental health more accepted within electronic music. For too long, the industry celebrated pushing limits while rarely discussing the consequences. Opening up about depression, burnout, and addiction is essential to changing that culture.
6. 06Going to Therapy Is Not a Weakness: DJs are expected to entertain thousands, perform at their best, and keep the energy high, regardless of how they feel. But they are human too. Talking openly about mental health, going to therapy, and asking for support should be as normal as taking care of physical health.
7. 07It’s Not Just the Superstar DJs: Mental health struggles don’t require fame or sold-out arenas. Whether you’re playing local clubs or international festivals, irregular sleep, financial uncertainty, performance anxiety, and the pressures of nightlife can affect anyone. No matter how successful a DJ becomes, their mental health deserves attention.
8. 08A Healthier Dance Music Scene Starts With Honesty: When respected artists like Armin van Buuren speak openly about depression and addiction, they help others feel less alone and make it easier to seek help. The industry needs to celebrate recovery, rest, boundaries, and vulnerability as much as success. Because loving what you do doesn’t mean you can’t struggle doing it.