Adele has broken records with her 15-month world stadium tour, becoming the first artist to sell out New Zealand’s Mount Smart Stadium three times.

However the 28-year-old singer has since confirmed that she may never tour again, as she feels too “vulnerable” singing on stage in front of thousands of people.

Addressing the 40,000-strong crowd at her show at Mount Smart Stadium over the weekend, she said: “Touring isn’t something I’m good at.”

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According to the New Zealand Herald, Adele continued: “Applause makes me feel a bit vulnerable.

“I don’t know if I will ever tour again. The only reason I’ve toured is you. I’m not sure if touring is my bag.”

It is not the first time that Adele has admitted to suffering from anxiety on stage: five years ago, she told Q magazine that her mental health issues were the reason she had declined headlining at Glastonbury festival.

“I have anxiety attacks, constant panicking on stage, my heart feels like it's going to explode because I never feel like I'm going to deliver, ever,” she said at the time.

Adele added: “I will not do festivals. The thought of an audience that big frightens the life out of me.

“I'd hate to book a festival and have a f****** anxiety attack and then not go on stage.”

The Grammy winner managed to get on top of her intense stage fright – which once caused her to “projectile vomit” on someone – with a little help from Beyoncé.

“I was about to meet Beyoncé and I had a full-blown anxiety attack,” she told Rolling Stone. “Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, ‘You're amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I'm listening to God.’”

When she later found herself on a balcony, crying hysterically, Adele asked herself, “‘What would [Beyoncé's alter ego] Sasha Fierce do?’ That's when Sasha Carter was born.”

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Since then, Adele has used this composite of Sasha Fierce and late country icon June Carter to give herself a shot of confidence before stepping out on stage.

And, over the past year, she’s tackled her nerves head-on to tour the world and sing in front of thousands of fans.

It is unsurprising, then, that she has dubbed her world tour the “greatest accomplishment in my career”.

“It’s changed my life,” she said. “I understand why I do it.”

Adele will perform four sold-out shows – dubbed The Finale – at Wembley Stadium between 28 June and 2 July, bringing an end to her 15-month world tour.

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Anxiety symptoms are often hard for sufferers to put into words; there is usually a sense of danger or threat, of not being able to cope with what might happen – a “nameless dread” that provokes such physically real symptoms that it can be utterly debilitating for sufferers.

The severity of these symptoms can vary from person to person, and can include:

• Restlessness
• A sense of dread
• Feeling constantly “on edge”
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Panic attacks
• Heart palpitations

If you suffer from anxiety, experts advise that you visit you GP to explore the number of treatments available.

You can find out more information – including a series of approved self-care tips – on the Mind website.

Images: Rex Features