Simran Joshi
Selena Gomez, the 32-year-old singer and actress, has long been an advocate for mental health awareness, openly sharing her own struggles with mental illness. Speaking at the premiere of her film *Emilia Pérez* at the London Film Festival, Gomez reflected on her journey of coping with bipolar disorder, a diagnosis she revealed in 2020. Despite her initial reluctance to speak publicly about her mental health, Gomez has since become a vocal supporter of mental health conversations, emphasising the importance of reaching out to others and finding strength in trusted relationships.
Selena Gomez on Managing Mental Illness and Learning to Cope
At the London Film Festival premiere of “Emilia Pérez,” Selena Gomez opened up about how she has learned to cope with mental illness. She emphasized the importance of talking to others for support, saying, “To be honest, I would say that one of the first things that’s so important about recognizing something happening to yourself is talking to other people. And I think that’s only ok if you trust the right people to kind of guide you and help you.” Gomez added that while living with mental illness is challenging, it’s something she is proud of. “Every day is a new day and some are good, some are bad, and you try to take it step by step. But, you know, living with a mental illness is definitely something I’m really proud of.”
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020, Gomez has since become an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness. Her 2022 documentary, *Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me*, provided a raw glimpse into her struggles, including an episode of psychosis in 2018. Although she recovered, the experience highlighted the challenges of living with bipolar disorder. Reflecting on her decision to go public with her diagnosis despite the advice of her team, Gomez shared, “I’m very proud of my approach,” making it clear that mental health advocacy is now a key part of her mission.
The Impact of Anxiety, Social Media, and Overcoming Dark Times
In a recent discussion during Wondermind’s Mental Fitness Summit, Gomez revisited how anxiety has affected her, sharing that her bedroom often became a “trigger” for her mental health struggles. “Going through that whole period of my life, it was my bed that I was stuck to,” she said, recalling how depression and isolation made her unable to leave her bed for weeks at a time. “I’m a little bit different than my mom, because I spent too much time in my bedroom that I actually don’t even sleep in my bedroom anymore, because I associate it with such a really dark time.”
Gomez also reflected on her relationship with social media, a platform she has deactivated on several occasions. “I’ve had to stop trying to defend myself, because I should not be apologetic for being honest, for saying I’m not good, and that’s not nice what you said,” she noted. Despite the challenges, Gomez emphasised the importance of self-belief and doing the internal work necessary for healing. “Being anxious is so debilitating sometimes, and yeah, I didn’t want to leave my bed for years, and part of it was I wasn’t doing the work. And you have to believe in yourself to do the work that will truly enlighten you a little bit.”
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