Having once proclaimed to feeling “broken,” these days Selena Gomez has finally found peace within herself.
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In a recent interview with Stellar magazine, Gomez revealed, "I’m in a good place right now,” and that she maintains it by working on her mental health “every day.”
A long time advocate of mental health Selena speaks up about her struggles often. Just last year she revealed during and episode of Miley Cyrus’ Instagram Live show Bright Minded that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
The diagnosis came after years of dealing with intense anxiety and depression that would leave Gomez despondent for days. Now, Gomez says she's focusing on "accepting and loving the parts of us that make us unique," adding, "I think that’s so important.”
At the time Gomez was working on the final stages of her beauty brand, Rare Beauty, which she admitted to Stellar was conceptualized as a response to "unrealistic standards of beauty" that are often perpetuated by and within the beauty industry. "Society constantly tells us that we’re not enough," she explained. "I wanted to start a brand to challenge and eliminate that pressure.”
"I saw from personal experience how these impossible beauty standards were having such an effect on my mental health and I know a lot of people who felt the same way," explained Gomez. "There’s a strong connection between how we talk about beauty and mental health. And I think we should discuss both."
Noting her most important tool for finding balance is carving out time to spend with her loved ones. She expressed, "I’m an open book for the most part, but it’s important for me to have space and time with my friends and family," Gomez continued. "When I’m with them, I try to be really present and just enjoy the moment.”
Which if you’re a fan of the multi-numbered threat, you’re aware also means taking an occasional hiatus from social media. Which Gomez says is something she's made a priority in her business.
"I think it’s so important to take breaks from scrolling on social media. At Rare Beauty we do social detox weekends often, when we encourage our community to log off for the weekend. It makes a big difference with mental health," she said.
Another instance of Selena speaking up - at the end of April, just before Mental Health Month began she utilized her impressive social media following as a platform to speak openly about her experience working to erase the stigma of living with mental health issues.
"I know firsthand how scary and lonely it can feel to face anxiety and depression by yourself at a young age," she wrote in a Note shared as a post regarding the launch of a new initiative #MentalHealth101 with Rare Impact through her beauty brand.
"If I had learned about my mental health earlier on — been taught about my condition in school that way I was taught about other subjects — my journey could have looked very different.”
"For anyone who is hurting right now, I hope you know that you are not alone," Gomez continued. "I’m a believer in seeking help. Getting support and educating myself on mental health has changed my life, and it can change yours, too. I hope that Mental Health 101 will be the stepping stones for others that I wish I had… to get connected to the resources they need, and to empower young people in ways that may not have been possible before. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this initiative and being part of the change.”
Similarly, Audacy’s I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.