November 11 [14:30 EDT] -- Janet Jackson's return to record racks was a long difficult one according to an article in the new issue of "Newsweek" magazine.

I was very, very sad. Very down," Janet tells "Newsweek" of the two year bout of depression that nearly stalled production of her "Velvet Rope" album.

(I) couldn't get up sometimes. There were times when I felt very hopeless and helpless, and I felt like walls were kind of closing in on me.

Jackson tells "Newsweek" that the depression began building in her childhood, and stems not from her family but rather from humiliating experiences with her teachers. She goes on to say that the depression was so bad during the recording of "Velvet Rope" that she occasionally broke down into tears in the studio, bringing recording to a halt.

Things have taken a significant upswing for the singer since those days. Jackson recently visited Sydney, Australia to make a personal appearance for her "Velvet Rope" album,

which debuted at number one in its first week in stores.

Despite its chart-topping start, some considered Jackson's sales sluggish (the new album sold some 200,000 copies in its first week as opposed to 350,000 for her last effort, "janet"), and the singer has since changed her management team.

Perhaps more important than new management to the potential success of "Velvet Rope" is Jackson's new single. The singer is following 'Got 'Til It's Gone" with the more dance-friendly "'Together Again," which is reportedly already causing radio programmers to prick up their ears.