George Michael cancels Australian tour dates over ‘major anxiety’

George Michael has canceled nine Australia tour dates, citing "major anxiety." 

The British singer's cancelations come a year after a case of severe pneumonia landed him in a hospital in Vienna. 

‘‘Since last year’s illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience," Michael said in a statement, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. "They recommended complete rest and the type of post-traumatic counseling which is available in cases like mine but I’m afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself." 

‘‘Unfortunately I seriously underestimated how difficult this year would be," he said, adding that the missed dates "break his heart," BBC News reported. 

Michael was scheduled to perform at the newly-built Perth Arena, as well as dates before playing playing in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hunter Valley; those who have tickets to those shows will be refunded, MTV UK reported. 

The artist has said he will finish his October tour dates in Britain and then take leave to regain his health. 

The tour is a continuation of The Symphonica tour that was canceled after he fell ill last year, according to BBC.