How Britney Spears' sons helped her overcome anxiety

Britney Spears says her sons helped her overcome crippling anxiety.

The Toxic hitmaker - who has kids Sean Preston, 10, and Jayden, nine, with her ex Kevin Federline - admitted becoming a mother made her "much more accepting" of herself compared to when she first moved to Los Angeles and used to constantly worry about her appearance.

She said: "Southern girls can be very hard on themselves because you are expected to act in a certain way, you are expected to please people.

"And then I moved to Los Angeles when I was very young. I was so under scrutiny. If a hair was out of place, I'd be so anxious. I would get very anxious about so many things.

"Becoming a mother and being with my boys has made me so much more accepting of myself. I'm their mom, whatever. That has been a really big thing for me over these last few years."

The 34-year-old star - who was married to Jason Alexander for just 55 hours in 2004 after tying the knot in Las Vegas, and was wed to Kevin for three years until 2007 - is currently single but admitted she still gets some anxiety when she goes dates with guys she likes.

She added to Marie Claire magazine: "I had a really bad date. I mean, it was bad. I've been single for ages and had a date with a guy I liked. I was getting anxious, worrying he wouldn't like me.

"We went to the movies, but I could tell right away it wasn't working. It was sort of awkward.

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"So after the movie I came home and that was it. It just didn't work...He just wasn't that into me. I liked him. He knew that. But he definitely didn't feel the same. It happens to everybody. Being famous doesn't make you any different."

- Bang! Showbiz