The 44-year-old has discussed his mental health battle in a new interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.
He revealed he needed time to 'decompress' after the media surrounding his sacking had clearly taken its toll.
'For a while there, to be honest, I don't think I was okay,' Karl admitted.
Stefanovic also revealed that taking six months off television allowed him to recover and get more perspective.
'It allowed me to think about life in a much clearer way and to know that when I did come back, I would be okay,' he said.
At the post-Logies brunch, Karl revealed to guests that he 'wasn't at his best' towards the end of his time at Today.
'Towards the end of last year, I was cooked,' he said.
'[The sacking] wasn't a great surprise to me. In fact, it was a relief in many ways that I was taken off the Today show because I just wasn't at my best.’
'You can't be doing that show unless you're at the top of your game.'
WATCH: SAM ARMYTAGE REVEALS WHAT SHE REALLY THINKS ABOUT KARL!
If you would like to talk to someone about mental health, you can call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Headspace on 1800 650 890. If you are contemplating suicide or having suicidal thoughts, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If you are in immediate danger, call 000
