Selena Gomez on the freedom to share her mental health

Selena Gomez has long been a mental health advocate, from revealing her own personal struggles with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder to sharing her journey in her 2022 documentary. My mind and me and creating several foundations, such as the Rare Impact Fund and Wondermind, to support and encourage the mental well-being of others.

Now, she explains that her candor also allowed her to take control of her narrative. “I define myself as a loving, caring person who really wants to do anything to help someone,” she told Hoda Kotb in an interview for the newspaper. Today to show. “I think life can be distracting and there’s so much noise.”

In fact, she said being honest with the public about her mental illness gave her a sense of freedom. “Headlines no longer scare me because I claimed my own story and I felt free from it,” she said.

In a separate interview with Wondermind (the “mental fitness” ecosystem founded by her and her mother, Mandy Teefey), she also explained that talking about things like social anxiety helps her and others to feel less alone.

“Sometimes I know why I feel this way and other times I can’t explain where it comes from,” she said. “I’m wired to get things done, but I think hearing other people in the room feeling the same way helps you feel like you’re not alone. I’m so glad we’re all talking about this stuff now. It makes a difference to know you’re not the only one.

Although she avoided spending time alone in the past, Gomez also explained that it’s now something she enjoys. “I used to hate being alone,” she explained. “I’ve always had someone around me, but now I cherish my alone time. I find it’s a way for me to recharge.”