Over the years, Selena Gomez has been inspirational when it comes to speaking candidly about her struggles with both her physical and mental health — and now she has talked in more detail about the hold anxiety sometimes has over her life.
Speaking at Wondermind’s Mental Fitness Summit for World Mental Health Day on Thursday (October 10), the actress and singer, 32, admitted that she no longer sleeps in her own bedroom because it triggers memories of some of her darkest moments.
“I actually don’t even sleep in my bedroom anymore, because I associate it with such a really dark time,” she said. “I am a very anxious person. It’s kind of like doomsday, and I think having a positive conversation with yourself, even if that sounds weird, it’s really impactful.”
In 2022, Gomez released a documentary, My Mind & Me, and revealed she suffered from psychosis and bipolar depression. “I didn’t want to leave my bed for years, and part of it was I wasn’t doing the work,” she said. “And you have to believe in yourself to do the work that will truly enlighten you a little bit.”
Two years on from its release, Gomez says she sometimes struggles with the attention she gets from fans, but tries to focus on how much she means to them. “Like before I step out of the car, and there’s going to be lots of noises and stuff — if that’s the case, I’m not saying that’s every day — but I have to breathe, and I have to say, ‘All of this is a gift, and I may not be in the mood for this, [but] every time I see someone and end up making them smile, [it] always just makes my day no matter how I’m feeling,” she said.
Selena Gomez Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix
Gomez says that her mom Mandy Teefey, who gave birth to the star when she was just 16, is a huge source of love and support when she’s finding life hard. “You know, my mom has always taught me that the noise is going to be there constantly, but it’s about finding that moment where I actually physically say, ‘No, I am a good person, I’m kind, I work really hard, and I’m grateful, and I love all the little things in life,’ and I need that reminder,” she said.
She added that curating a small support network, including her therapist, has been key to dealing with her mental health. “I don’t have a lot of people in my life, I know who my inner circle is,” she said. “I have to talk things out. And I have a therapist too, but it’s also nice to have people around you who will just listen to you. There is a freedom in letting go of whatever it is that’s keeping you stuck and that lump in your throat.”
