Selena Gomez says a bipolar diagnosis is helping her live ‘in peace’ after her misdiagnosis

Actress and singer Selena Gomez continues to open up about her mental health following her diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

The former Disney star announced her 2020 engagement during an Instagram Live video call with fellow Disney Channel star Miley Cyrus. Gomez has described the discovery as a relief, though not an easy one.

In a recent episode of the “Friends Keep Secrets” podcast, Gomez – founder of the mental health book Wondermind – shared details about her journey with diagnosis.

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Fellow singer Benny Blanco asked his wife if she knew she had bipolar before she was officially diagnosed.

“I knew something was wrong, but I think I was misdiagnosed,” he replied. “I think people were just thinking — and I was going to try a lot of therapists.”

“It’s actually really hard when we talk about these things, and for me to go, ‘Go get a therapist.’ It’s all… complicated. “

Gomez elaborated on how her diagnosis required talking to “a lot of different people,” stressing the importance of not giving up.

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“I’m very thankful that I went to four different rescue centers because everything helped me understand,” she said.

Blanco revealed that Gomez sometimes experiences a manic episode without realizing it.

“He will start to realize that he has it after it happened, sometimes he doesn’t even remember when it happened,” he said.

“It’s a very sensitive thing because … you shouldn’t, technically, talk to someone about it while they’re deep in it.”

Blanco added that Gomez is “very aware” when he is suffering from mania.

“I’m equally proud to say that I have crazy moments,” she said. “I’m not shy at all, because I can catch them quickly.”

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“It helps to have a partner who will understand … and meet you where you are,” added the singer.

Since his diagnosis, Gomez said he has been living life “in peace.”

“All the hypocrisy of shaming people into getting treatment, or people not understanding it, is that it’s not for you,” she said. “But for me, it finally allowed me to go, ‘Oh, that’s why I handled things the way I did [did]. That’s why all the other people were able to solve things quickly, I couldn’t.’

Blanco (left) revealed that Gomez sometimes experiences a manic episode without realizing it. (Emma McIntyre)

Gomez added, “I could do it out of fear, I could do it out of love, I could do it out of lust, it was all inconsistent. It was crazy.”

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The actor encouraged others that regardless of the diagnosis, “it is not defined by a name.”

“It’s just educational to search and talk and listen to podcasts or listen to certain things that will help you get information,” she said. “I believe there is a lot of hope.”

Symptoms of bipolar disorder

About 2.8% of adults in the US have experienced bipolar disorder in the past year, while 4.4% experience it during their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Formerly called “manic-depressive disorder,” bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood, energy and activity levels, affecting the ability to perform daily tasks.

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This can include high moods, called mania or hypomania, and lows, known as depression, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms can vary depending on the type of bipolar.

“You are not defined by a name.”

Manic and hypomanic episodes usually include three or more of the following symptoms:

• Increased activity, energy or agitation
• Feeling too confident, or having a distorted sense of well-being
• Needs less sleep than usual
• Talking too fast or speaking in an unusual way
• Having thoughts of running or jumping from one subject to another
• Easily distracted
• Making bad decisions

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Major depressive episodes include symptoms such as feeling depressed, empty and hopeless. (Stock)

Major depressive episodes usually include five or more of the following symptoms.

• Feeling depressed, sad, empty, hopeless or tearful
• Losing interest or feeling unhappy in many activities
• Losing weight if you don’t eat, or overeating and gaining weight
• Too much or too little sleep
• Feeling restless or doing less than usual
• Feeling very tired or weak
• Feeling worthless or guilty when unnecessary
• Struggling to think or concentrate, leading to inability to make decisions
• Thinking, planning or attempting suicide

Formerly called “manic-depressive disorder,” bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood, energy and activity levels. (Stock)

It wants a diagnosis

The Mayo Clinic encourages anyone with these symptoms to seek professional help.

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Diagnosis can be made through physical examination and lab tests, as well as mental health tests and tracking of mood, sleep patterns and other factors.

After diagnosis, the Mayo Clinic recommends paying attention to warning signs to prevent episodes. Getting enough sleep, taking medications as prescribed, and avoiding drugs and alcohol can also help.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to representation for Gomez and Wondermind for comment.