Selena Gomez has shared some of the most candid details yet about her journey to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, revealing that she was misdiagnosed before finally finding answers, and that the process required visits to four different rehab facilities and multiple therapists before things were cleared up.
Talking about her husband Benny Blancos Friends keep secrets podcast, the actress and singer reflected on what it took to get a proper diagnosis, which she first publicly announced in 2020 during an Instagram Live with Miley Cyrus.
“I knew something was wrong, but I think I was misdiagnosed,” she said. “I think people just assumed and I would try more therapists.”
She was open about how difficult that process can be for others in a similar position.
“It’s actually really hard when we talk about these things and for me to say, ‘Go see a therapist.’ It’s all so…complicated.” She added: “I’m so thankful that I went to four different rehabs because it all helped me understand it.”
Blanco also spoke candidly about what living with Gomez’s bipolar disorder looks like on a day-to-day basis, describing the delicate nature of manic episodes.
“She’ll start realizing she has it after it happens, and sometimes she can’t even remember when it happens,” he said.
“It’s such a delicate thing because… technically you’re not supposed to talk to the person about it while they’re deep in it.”
He added that despite this, Gomez is “so hyper aware” of her condition.
Gomez herself said she has reached a place of true acceptance around these moments.
“I’m equally proud to say that I have moments of mania. I’m not ashamed at all because I can catch them a little quicker.”
She also talked about the value of having a supportive partner. “It’s helpful to have a partner who will understand… and meet you where you’re at,” she said.
Since receiving her diagnosis, Gomez said she has been able to live more freely with a clearer understanding of herself.
“The whole hypocrisy of shaming people for therapy or people not understanding it is that it’s just not for you. But for me, it finally allowed me to say, ‘Oh, this is why I handled things the way I [did]. That’s why all the other people were able to get over things quickly, and I wasn’t.”
She described her behavior before diagnosis as inconsistent and driven by emotions.
“I would act out of fear, I would act out of love, I would act out of passion, it was all inconsistent. It was crazy.”
Her message to others navigating a diagnosis was clear. “You are not defined by a term,” she said. “I believe there is a lot of hope.”
Gomez is the co-founder of Wondermind, a mental health media platform.
