In a recent documentary titled Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, Selena Gomez, one of the world’s most beloved stars, has opened up about her rise to fame and the mental health struggles she has faced along the way.
Who Is Selena Gomez?
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past few years, chances are you have heard of Selena Gomez. She is one of the world’s most beloved and well-known stars who, at just thirty years old, has already built an incredibly successful career as a pop star, actress, producer, and businesswoman.
Her career began at a young age, with the children’s television show Barney. She then rose to fame after starting in the hit television series Wizards of Waverly Place.
She has since gone on to star in multiple hit movies and shows, released several successful albums, opened her own production company, dropped successful makeup, clothing, handbag, and fragrance lines, and received many awards.
What Has She Said About Her Mental Health?
Over the years, Selena has not shied away from speaking about her own mental health struggles. In November 2022, the star opened up to Rolling Stone about just how hard her struggles have been.
According to the piece, Selena’s documentary reveals that she had to cancel her 2016 Revival tour early for mental health reasons, ultimately checking into a treatment facility. The documentary goes on to share scenes of Gomez experiencing mental health struggles such as not wanting to get out of bed and struggling while on her press tour.
In her interview, she revealed that she had been to four treatment centers. She revealed that in her early 20s, she began to feel as though her emotions were becoming out of her control-whether they were good or bad.
She’d experience weeks of highs and lows, with no obvious cause. Her highs brought sleepless nights and manic thoughts. Her lows brought bouts of depression and isolation. She was quoted saying “I thought the world would be better if I wasn’t there.”
By 2018, Gomez began experiencing psychosis and paranoia and was checked into a treatment facility. She told Rolling Stone that she only remembered bits and pieces of the time, but that friends told her she was unrecognizable.
She was then diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a disorder defined by mood swings that include depressive lows and manic highs that can last days or weeks with no obvious cause.
After being put on medications in hopes of helping her feel like herself again, Selena found a psychiatrist who was able to help. While she will always have to navigate her diagnosis, she is currently on medication that helps her feel like herself again.
Final Thoughts
Mental health struggles can impact anyone. Despite struggling with her mental health for years, Selena Gomez is still the brilliant, beautiful, and beloved star we all know and love. Experiencing mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. If your mental health is struggling, reach out to a professional today.
Emily Stevens is a US based writer with a passion and background in psychology. She has been writing since 2020, with the goal of combatting the mental health stigma and educating the public. She believes that the more we talk about mental health, the better chance we all have at living happier, healthier lives. Education: B.A.- Psychology University of Texas San Antonio, Graduated 2018 M.S.- Psychology Southern New Hampshire University, Graduated 2020