Singer/songwriter MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER suffers from clinical depression - an illness which has plagued her since childhood.
The 48-year-old country star kept her battle private until last month (APR06), when she revealed her lifelong secret at a book festival. The singer explains, "I was so...afraid people would find out."
She adds her illness, "Is so mysterious to me. It's caused me a lot of pain."
The PASSIONATE KISSES singer claims her angst helped fuel her musical talent at times, but that she also suffered especially traumatic bouts of depression which left her unable to compose.
She describes the episodes as, "A period of time when I feel very, very down. It's not a coincidence that I'm not writing (during those times)."

Chapin Carpenter sees a therapist regularly to monitor her condition and is currently promoting her new album, BETWEEN HERE AND GONE.(SS/WNWCYA/JB)