Gwen Stefani is enjoying happier days now with a new hit single, a new album and a new boyfriend, country star Blake Shelton. However, there was a dark period in the years leading up to her divorce from Bush rocker Gavin Rossdale. Stefani opened up about her "struggle" balancing her family and career in the cover story for the December issue of InStyle, reported People.

The 46-year-old No Doubt frontwoman said it was difficult for her to split time between her home life and her rock star life while she was recording the band's 2012 album "Push and Shove," according to People. She shares three sons with her ex: 9-year-old Kingston, 7-year-old Zuma and 20-month-old Apollo.

"Every day I would take the kids to school, drive to Santa Monica, work on the album, and then I'd think, 'Oh my god, if I don't leave by 2:30, I'm not gonna get home in time for dinner.' And Gavin being on tour..." Stefani told InStyle. "I'm not gonna say there weren't some incredible moments making that album. But it was a lot of knocking my head against the wall. A lot of struggle."

But Stefani credited her friend and "Voice" co-star Pharrell Williams with giving her the push to get out of that funk.

"He helped me with a lot of stuff. I was in a closed-off period before that — I couldn't write, and I didn't feel confident," said Stefani, as reported by Us Weekly. "There were hard times before the baby, personally, that were just not good. And then having Apollo, and being on the show, and being refreshed: It was just like, 'Whoa!'"

"I'm in a really positive place now," she added.

The December issue of InStyle hits stands Nov. 13. See Stefani's cover photo below.

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