.jpeg "Selena Gomez Says Therapy and Diagnosis Helped Her Finally Understand Herself")
During the March 3 episode of the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, Gomez appeared alongside her husband, music producer Benny Blanco. The 33-year-old star reflected on the long and difficult path it took to finally understand what she was experiencing.
“I knew something was wrong”
Gomez said she spent years searching for answers while working with different therapists before finally receiving the correct diagnosis.
“I knew something was wrong, but I think I was misdiagnosed,” Gomez said. “People were just assuming, and I would try multiple therapists. And that’s why it’s hard. It’s actually really hard when we’re talking about these things.”
According to Gomez, finding the right help required patience and persistence. She said the process involved seeing multiple doctors and mental health professionals before getting clarity.
Despite the challenges, she emphasized an important message: never give up on seeking help.
Support from husband Benny Blanco
Blanco shared that he sometimes notices when Gomez is experiencing manic episodes related to bipolar disorder.
“She’ll start to realize she’s having it after it’s happening,” Blanco said. “Sometimes she doesn’t even remember when it’s happening.”
He explained that supporting someone during those moments requires understanding and patience. Gomez agreed, noting that having a supportive partner has made a big difference.
“It is helpful to have a partner that understands where the temperature is at and meets you where you are,” she said.
Learning to recognize the signs
The Only Murders in the Building actress said she is now able to recognize the early signs of mania more quickly than before.
“I’m not ashamed at all because I can catch them a bit quicker,” Gomez explained.
She also spoke about the stigma surrounding therapy and mental health treatment.
“The whole hypocrisy of shaming people for therapy is that it’s just not for you,” she said. “That’s completely fine. But for me, it finally allowed me to understand why I handled things the way I did.”
Years of health challenges
Gomez’s mental health journey has also been closely connected to serious physical health struggles.
In 2014, she revealed she had been diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue. The condition eventually caused lupus nephritis, damaging her kidneys.
In 2017, Gomez underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, with actress Francia Raisa donating the organ.
The singer has also spoken openly about experiencing panic attacks, depression, and a psychotic break in 2018, which led to hospitalization.
Bipolar diagnosis brought relief
In 2020, Gomez publicly revealed during an Instagram Live conversation with Miley Cyrus that she had been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.
Rather than feeling afraid, she said the diagnosis brought relief.
“It took the fear away,” Gomez said at the time. “I finally had an answer.”
She has since described the process of finding the right medication as trial and error, noting that some early treatments made her feel unlike herself before she found a stable balance.
Turning struggles into advocacy
Gomez has turned her experiences into advocacy work. Through her beauty brand Rare Beauty, she launched the Rare Impact Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million over 10 years to expand access to mental health services, especially for young people.
She has also spoken with policymakers, including former U.S. President Joe Biden, about improving mental health education in schools.
Reflecting on everything she has gone through, Gomez says those struggles ultimately shaped who she is today.
“I remind myself that I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the psychotic break, if it wasn’t for my lupus, if it wasn’t for my diagnosis,” she said. “I’m okay with that because I know that I’m choosing myself over anything else.”
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Selena Gomez
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