Selena Gomez reveals bipolar disorder diagnosis: ‘I finally found out why I had suffered for so many years’
Selena Gomez has revealed she was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Speaking to Miley Cyrus on her Bright Minded livestream on Friday, the 27-year-old singer said she was grateful to find out more about how the condition affects her and wants to gain all the knowledge she can about it.
During the candid chat about mental health, Selena revealed she was diagnosed after a visit to McLean Hospital, a psychiatric and neuroscience research center in Massachusetts.
‘Recently, I went to one of the best mental hospitals in… America, McClean Hospital, and I discussed that after years of going through a lot of different things, I realized that I was bipolar,’ she explained.
Mental Health chat: Selena Gomez revealed on Friday that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in a candid chat with Miley Cyrus
After finding out the diagnosis, Selena said she felt ‘equal parts terrified and relieved – terrified because the veil was lifted but relieved that I finally had the knowledge of why I had suffered with various depressions and anxieties for so many years.
‘I never had full awareness or answers about this condition.’ the Good for You hitmaker confessed.
She continued, ‘When I have more information, it actually helps me, it doesn’t scare me once I know it.
‘When I was younger, I was scared of thunderstorms and my mom bought me all these books on thunderstorms and she was like, “The more you educate yourself on this, the more that you’re not going to be afraid.” It completely worked. That’s something that helps me big time,’
‘I finally had the knowledge’: During the candid chat about mental health, Selena revealed she was diagnosed after a visit to McLean Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Massachusetts
Selena said that during her upbringing in Texas she felt like it wasn’t encouraged to talk about emotions.
‘I’m from Texas, it’s just not known to talk about mental health. You got to seem cool. And then I see anger built up in children and teenagers or whatever young adults because they are wanting that so badly. I just feel like when I finally said what I was going to say, I wanted to know everything about it. And it took the fear away.’
During the web cast the duo talked about managing anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic, when people feel more isolated than usual and may have trouble reaching out.
Selena has openly talked about her anxiety and depression in the past but hasn’t before revealed that she suffers from bipolar disorder.
In August 2016 the songstress took a break from her career to deal with anxiety, panic attacks and depression which she said stemmed from her battle with lupus.
She told PEOPLE at the time that the conditions were side effects of the autoimmune disease.
‘I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off,’ she said in a statement.
In 2018 she opened up about her battle with depression, telling Harper’s Bazaar, ‘I’ve had a lot of issues with depression and anxiety, and I’ve been very vocal about it, but it’s not something I feel I’ll ever overcome.
Selena has openly talked about her anxiety and depression in the past but hasn’t before revealed that she suffers from bipolar disorder
‘There won’t be a day when I’m like, “Here I am in a pretty dress— I won!” I think it’s a battle I’m gonna have to face for the rest of my life, and I’m okay with that because I know that I’m choosing myself over anything else.
‘I’m starting my year off with that thought. I want to make sure I’m healthy. If that’s good, everything else will fall into place.’
That same year she sought treatment at a psychiatric facility on the east coast and received therapy including ‘dialectical behavior therapy,’ something which she is now a big believer in and even discussed with Miley during Friday’s episode.