Demi Lovato has found new hope in her years long struggle with mental health.
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The 31-year-old recently opened up about her journey during a chat with Dr. Charlie Shaffer at the Center for Youth Mental Health at New York Presbyterian’s annual benefit on Monday Night.
"I have been to inpatient treatment five times,” she shared candidly, according to PEOPLE. "It felt like I had hit rock bottom and I just knew what I needed to do, which was to live a life in recovery. And that was something that I pushed off for so long.”
Making a full commitment to her fifth trip to in-patient treatment, Lovato says she started to see a glimmer of hope that only continued to grow over time. “I think the glimmer of hope was when I started putting in the work and I started to, whether it was work, a program, or talk to my treatment team and build relationships there."
While Lovato says things "definitely felt different" as she changed her attitude and commitment to treatment, there was also another important piece to the puzzle — finding the right medication.
"I also needed the right medication,” she shared. “I think for me, medication has helped me tremendously. It's helped so many people tremendously, and I think I had hit another low, and I was like, 'what am I doing wrong?' I felt defeated. But then, when all of the key parts started to fit into place like a perfect puzzle, I started to find the light again."
As she continues to tend to her mental health and advocate for others, Lovato shares she’s sure to recognize her mental health is not her identity. "It wasn't until I went into treatment for the first time that I realized this isn't who I am. It's just a part of what makes me me, meaning my struggles have shaped me into the pottery that you see today, but it's never become my identity since then. It's just become something about me that makes me a little interesting, I guess you could say," she said, noting that she's "grateful for the things that I've been through and what I've overcome."
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 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.