Selena Gomez has spoken candidly about her struggles with bipolar disorder and revealed she once contemplated suicide before seeking help at four different treatment centres.
The 30-year-old Disney star first opened up about her bipolar disorder in 2020 during an appearance on Miley Cyrus ’ Instagram Live show, Bright Minded.
She has now said things got "really dark" when she entered into her early 20s, adding that she felt as though she couldn't control what she was feeling as she experienced extreme highs and lows.
"I’m going to be very open with everybody about this: I’ve been to four treatment centres.
"I think when I started hitting my early twenties is when it started to get really dark, when I started to feel like I was not in control of what I was feeling, whether that was really great or really bad," she told Rolling Stone.
Selena said her highs and lows would last for months at a time.
Sometimes she wouldn't be able to sleep for days and would convince herself she needed to buy everyone she know a car in order to share her "gift" with them.
At other times, she would feel extremely low and "go into isolation". Selena said she wouldn't be able to move from her bed and would spend weeks not wanting to talk to anyone.
She said: "Sometimes it was weeks I’d be in bed, to where even walking downstairs would get me out of breath."
The Only Murders in the Building actress never attempted suicide, but did spent a few years contemplating it because she thought "the world would be better if I wasn’t there".
Selena has worked tirelessly during her career to break the taboo of poor mental health and improve access to support for those who need it.
She is set to release a new documentary, My Mind and Me, which documents her journey across six years.
The film will show her rise to fame and will see the actress open up about mental health issues and feelings of loneliness. Apple TV+ describes it as a "uniquely raw and intimate documentary".
My Mind And Me is scheduled for release on November 4.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
