Selena Gomez Bipolar Disorder: Her Story, In Her Words

Selena Gomez has shared that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020, after a stay at a mental health treatment facility, and she has also lived with lupus since revealing that diagnosis in 2015. In interviews and in her documentary "My Mind & Me," she has spoken candidly about psychosis, medication, and taking recovery day by day. Here is her story in her own words, along with what bipolar disorder actually is and where to find help.

The Lupus Diagnosis That Started It All

Gomez first revealed she had lupus in 2015, explaining that it was the real reason behind a break she took from touring. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the joints, skin, and organs, and its severity can vary widely between patients. In 2017, complications from the disease led Gomez to undergo a kidney transplant, with her close friend Francia Raisa serving as the donor.

Living with an illness like lupus often means unpredictable flares, fatigue, and frequent medical care. That reality is part of the backdrop to everything Gomez has later said about her mental health.

How Lupus Connected to Her Mental Health

In a 2016 statement, Gomez explained that anxiety, panic attacks, and depression could be side effects of lupus, describing how the physical illness brought its own emotional challenges. This connection between chronic illness and mental health is well documented. Living with an unpredictable autoimmune condition can understandably take a psychological toll, from the stress of symptoms to the loss of control over plans and routines.

If you live with a long-term physical condition, it is worth knowing that low mood or anxiety are not signs that you are "coping badly." They are common, treatable, and worth mentioning to your doctor. Our article on why mental health diagnoses often overlap explains why several conditions can show up together.

The Selena Gomez Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis, In Her Words

In 2020, Gomez shared during an Instagram conversation with Miley Cyrus that she had recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a stay at a mental health treatment facility. She described how learning more about the diagnosis helped reduce her fear of it.

Gomez has also spoken about experiencing psychosis in 2018, telling Rolling Stone that hearing voices led her to seek treatment, after which she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and worked with doctors to find medications that worked for her.

In her 2022 Apple TV+ documentary "My Mind & Me," she went further, discussing the difficulty of adjusting to medication and calling the process of coping with her diagnosis something she had to take "day by day."

What Bipolar Disorder Is and How It Can Feel

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition marked by significant shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. These shifts go well beyond ordinary ups and downs, and they can affect sleep, judgment, relationships, and the ability to carry out daily tasks. It is a long-term condition, but it is very manageable with the right care.

Manic or Hypomanic Episodes

During a high phase, a person may feel unusually energized, euphoric, or irritable. Common signs include:

• Needing much less sleep without feeling tired
• Racing thoughts and very fast speech
• Big plans, inflated confidence, or risky decisions
• Being easily distracted and restless

Depressive Episodes

Low phases can look like major depression, with persistent sadness or emptiness, loss of interest, fatigue, changes in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness.

Psychosis

Some people with bipolar disorder experience psychosis during severe episodes, such as hearing voices or holding beliefs that are not based in reality. As Gomez's experience shows, this can be frightening, but it is also a clear signal to seek help, and it responds to treatment.

Because bipolar depression can look like ordinary depression, it is sometimes recognized only after a high phase is noticed. That is one reason a careful professional assessment matters.

Living With Both Bipolar Disorder and Lupus

Managing both lupus and bipolar disorder has meant navigating overlapping physical and mental health challenges. Gomez has discussed how certain medications affected her memory and sense of self, and has been candid that treatment has sometimes come with difficult trade-offs, including concerns about future fertility.

Treatment for bipolar disorder commonly includes mood-stabilizing medication, talk therapy, and steady daily routines, especially around sleep. Finding the right medication or combination can take time, and side effects are a normal thing to raise with your prescriber rather than endure in silence. If you are weighing different approaches, our overview of CBT vs medication explains how therapy and medicine can work together.

Why Her Openness Matters

• Chronic illness and mental health are connected. Gomez's experience highlights how physical conditions like lupus can contribute to anxiety and depression.
• A diagnosis can bring relief, not just fear. Gomez has described how understanding her bipolar diagnosis helped ease her anxiety about it.
• Treatment is often trial and error. Finding the right medication took time and adjustment, which is common and not a sign of failure.
• Recovery isn't linear. Gomez continues to describe her mental health as something she works on, not something she has "fixed."

Her honesty sits alongside other public figures who have spoken up, such as Ariana Grande about depression and anxiety. Together, these stories help make it easier for ordinary people to say, "Me too."

When to Talk to a Doctor or Mental Health Professional

Hearing a public figure describe bipolar disorder, psychosis, or the mental health effects of chronic illness can be validating, but self-diagnosis isn't a substitute for professional evaluation. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, bipolar disorder is a treatable condition, and most people who receive proper care and support are able to manage their symptoms effectively.

Consider speaking with a doctor if you notice distinct periods of unusually high energy and little need for sleep, low moods that last for weeks, mood changes that strain your work or relationships, or experiences such as hearing voices. If you are worried about a loved one, our guide on how to support someone with depression offers gentle ways to help. If you or someone else is thinking about self-harm or is in danger, contact your local emergency services or a crisis line immediately.

Selena Gomez's bipolar disorder and lupus diagnoses have shaped a public health journey marked by honesty rather than secrecy. Her willingness to describe the hard parts, including medication side effects, fear, and the slow work of coping, has helped normalize conversations that many people are still afraid to have. If any part of her story feels familiar, understanding depression's signs and symptoms is a good place to start before speaking with a healthcare provider. Help is available, and you can take it one day at a time too.

Frequently asked questions

When was Selena Gomez diagnosed with bipolar disorder?

Selena Gomez shared in 2020, during an Instagram conversation with Miley Cyrus, that she had recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a stay at a mental health treatment facility. She has said that learning more about the diagnosis helped reduce her fear of it, and she later discussed her experience in her 2022 documentary.

Can lupus cause depression and anxiety?

Living with lupus can affect mental health. Selena Gomez said in 2016 that anxiety, panic attacks, and depression could be side effects of her lupus. Chronic illness often brings stress, pain, fatigue, and uncertainty, which can contribute to low mood and anxiety. Anyone with lupus who notices these symptoms should mention them to their doctor.

What are the main signs of bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder involves marked shifts in mood and energy. High phases may include needing little sleep, racing thoughts, fast speech, and risky decisions. Low phases resemble depression, with sadness, fatigue, and loss of interest. Some people experience psychosis during severe episodes. Only a qualified professional can diagnose the condition after a careful assessment.

Is bipolar disorder treatable?

Yes. Bipolar disorder is a long-term condition, but it is treatable, and many people manage their symptoms well with the right care. Treatment often combines medication, talk therapy, and steady routines, especially around sleep. Finding the right medication can take time and adjustment, so staying in close contact with your doctor is important.