Selena Gomez Opens Up About Her Mental Health Journey: “Makes Me Sick To Hear The Things I Was Saying About Myself’

Selena Gomez recently shared insights into her personal journey of self-love and mental health during a panel discussion at SXSW. Joined by her mother and co-founder of Wondermind, Mandy Teefey, the singer and actress spoke candidly about her experiences. In December 2021, Selena and Mandy founded Wondermind, an online community dedicated to fostering open conversations about mental health. Through their platform, they aim to provide individuals with a supportive environment to share their struggles and seek guidance.

Reflecting on her 2022 documentary, My Mind & Me, Selena expressed how the process of creating the film shed light on her own self-perception. She admitted feeling disheartened by the negative thoughts she once harbored about herself. “It makes me sick to hear the things that I was saying about myself in the beginning. It bums me out,” she confessed.

The documentary, directed by Alek Keshishian, chronicled Selena’s journey over six years, delving into her struggles with confidence, body image issues, bipolar disorder diagnosis, and the pressures of fame. The Love Will Remember singer credited a pivotal conversation with her mother, sparked by watching Girl, Interrupted, for inspiring her to embrace authenticity and share her story.

In discussing the complexities of mental health, Selena emphasized the importance of self-compassion and the need to acknowledge one’s own struggles at their own pace. 

Drawing from her own experiences, she highlighted the significance of finding one’s own path towards healing. “There was a lot of people that cared about me more than I cared about myself that really wanted me to do things I wasn’t ready for,” she recalled, adding, “I had my rock bottom, and I had to do it in my time.” 

Despite facing challenges along the way, she expressed optimism about her current state of well-being.

In her words, “It took a couple of tries, but I like to think and hope I’m in a much better place now.”