Christina Aguilera was far from happy during her early years on Disney’s ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ as a teen.

The Your Body hitmaker appeared alongside the likes of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling on the children’s variety show prior to launching her pop career in 1998 with Reflection – lifted from the soundtrack of Disney’s 1998 animated film ‘Mulan’ .

And despite the glitz and glamour, the star tells Health magazine her early experiences left her battling anxieties that continue today.

“I have this massive trunk of old diaries that I’ve literally kept from the past 20 years of my life,” explains the singer. “I was able to catch up on them and do some self-reflecting. It really forced me to be silent and take a look at myself.

“In some regard, I wasn’t happy with a lot of things, and it’s scary to face those feelings that, under normal circumstances, you don’t have time to face because everyone is going, going, going.

“That grind is praised, but I think we’re all understanding that having moments to self-reflect and just breathe are crucial.”

While Christina is now a mum of two, she goes on to reflect that she still feels “guilt” about taking time out from her career for her family, which she attributes to the competitive nature of being a child star.

“When I’m not working, there’s a heavy amount of guilt that I feel. It’s been embedded in me since I was little – you’re shamed if you don’t want to keep up,” she muses.

“As a child (star), you’re all pitted against one another, and other children are all about that grind too. It’s a weird space to grow up in.”

And even now, the Candyman hitmaker, who is currently working on two new studio albums, has to work to overcome her anxieties, sharing: “It’s a constant battle to overcome a mind that is anxious, a mind that is always second-guessing.”