Singer and actress Selena Gomez revealed how she copes with manic episodes after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Selena Gomez disclosed that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder during an SNS live with Miley Cyrus in 2020. She said that learning this brought her relief, but it was by no means an easy process.
Selena Gomez recently appeared on the "Friedns Keep Secrets" podcast and spoke about her journey to a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Her husband, music producer Benny Blanco, asked whether he knew about it before the diagnosis.
Gomez said, "I knew something was wrong. But I think I had been misdiagnosed. People seemed to just guess, and I went to see many therapists," and added, "It's actually very hard to talk about these things. For me to tell someone 'go see a therapist' is hard. All of this is really complicated." Gomez, who consulted with several different people before the diagnosis, stressed the importance of not giving up.
She added, "I am really grateful that I went to four rehabilitation facilities. All that process helped people understand me."
She also said that sometimes people do not recognize mania while experiencing it, noting, "Sometimes you only realize it after the episode has progressed, and sometimes you don't remember it at all while it's happening. It's a very delicate issue. Because when someone is deeply immersed in that state, it's not appropriate to tell them that directly."
Gomez expressed affection about her husband Benny Blanco, saying, "Having a partner who understands and accepts you as you are is a big help."
In particular, Gomez said she lives more freely after the diagnosis, saying, "It is contradictory to shame someone for receiving treatment or to have an attitude that does not understand it. It just means it doesn't suit you."
Gomez encouraged others, saying, "I have acted out of fear, and I have acted out of love, out of passion. None of it was consistent. It was really confusing," and, "(Whatever diagnosis you receive) it does not define you."
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