“What Else Do I Have to Face? I’m Not Afraid,” How Selena Gomez Stood Her Ground in Hard Times

Selena Gomez is one of the most popular young artists. She started her career as a child on Barney and Friends, and from then on she has achieved success after success in TV shows, movies, and her singing career. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing, recently she has struggled with various physical and psychological ailments.

Bright Side tells you how Selena Gomez has been able to get ahead in recent years, and how her story can inspire others.

In 2013, when she was 21 years old, Selena Gomez had to cancel her world tour because of symptoms of lupus. Rumors immediately surfaced in the tabloids that this was due to substances, but it was soon dismissed.

In an interview, she commented, “I wanted so badly to say, ’You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy.’” Since 2014, the singer has had several treatments to counteract the effects of lupus.

In 2016, she decided to take a break and commented, “As you know I have Lupus, a disease that can affect you in many ways. I’ve found that anxiety, panic attacks, and depression are side effects of the disease... I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness... So I’ve decided it’s best for me to take some time off.”

Later that year, Selena made her first public appearance at the American Music Awards, where she opened up to the audience. “I had to stop because I was absolutely broken inside... I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what’s here (in the heart). I’m not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore. If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken.”

In early 2017, Selena Gomez was involved in the development of the series 13 Reasons Why, which is based on a novel and deals with difficult issues such as depression, bullying, and emotional abuse.

“I would do anything to be able to have a good influence on this generation. I think this series is an experience that ultimately is bringing light to very difficult and dark topics in a very difficult and dark time,” commented the singer.

In September 2017, Selena Gomez revealed that she had received a kidney transplant from one of her best friends, actress Francia Raisa. “She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis” she said on Instagram.

In September 2018, the actress entered a psychiatric center, as she had had a strong emotional crisis. Apparently, the crisis came after she had several tests in which her white blood cell count was extremely low. For the second time, she withdrew from social media to focus on her health.

Three months later, she returned to public life through a post on her social media: “Trust me, it’s not easy, but I am proud of the person I am becoming.”

In early 2020, in an interview by Miley Cyrus, Selena commented: “I went to one of the best mental hospitals... McLean Hospital and I discussed that after years of going through a lot of different things, I realized that I was bipolar. I just feel like when I finally said what I was going to say, I wanted to know everything about it, and it just took the fear away.”

“I have problems with depression and anxiety, and I found it difficult for me to be me. Taking a break from social media was the best decision that I’ve ever made for my mental health. I’m a big believer in therapy, and I always feel so confident when I’m taking care of myself,” wrote the singer.

“My lupus, my kidney transplant, chemotherapy, having a mental illness, going through very public heartbreaks, these were all things that honestly should have taken me down,” Selena told a media outlet. “Every time I went through something, I was like, ’What else, what else am I going to have to deal with?’”

She explained that she looked inward to draw strength to keep going. “You’re going to help people,” she recalled telling herself. “That’s really what kept me going. There could have been a time when I wasn’t strong enough and would have done something to hurt myself. Yes, I went away. Yes, I struggle with mental health. I’ve been depressed, and I’ve had anxiety. I felt a huge weight lifted off me when I found out.”

Selena Gomez has not only spoken openly about her situation to raise awareness, but she has also donated millions of dollars to Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, which works with victims of abuse.

What other inspiring life stories do you know of? Tell us in the comments.