Nearly six years after publicly revealing her bipolar disorder diagnosis, Selena Gomez continues to use her platform to talk about mental health, offering an intimate look at her journey and how her relationship with her husband, producer Benny Blanco, is a key person in her healing process.

The actress and singer, who rose to fame on the Disney Channel, shared new details in a recent episode of the podcast “Friends Keep Secrets,” where she addressed the challenges she faced before receiving an accurate diagnosis.

Gomez, co-founder of the mental health platform “Wondermind,” revealed that before doctors correctly identified her condition in 2020, there was a period of confusion and misdiagnosis. It was during a conversation with Blanco that the artist reflected on that time.

“I knew something was wrong, but I think I was misdiagnosed,” Gomez explained. “I think people were just assuming I would try multiple therapists.”

The singer emphasized the complexity of seeking professional help: “It’s actually really hard when we talk about these things, and for me to say, 'Go get a therapist.' It’s all so… complicated,” she added.

Gomez detailed that her definitive diagnosis required consulting with “several different people” and underscored the importance of perseverance. “I’m so grateful I went to four different rehab centers because it all helped me understand it,” she said.

Mania and the support of her partner

During the conversation, Benny Blanco offered an outside perspective, describing how Gomez sometimes experiences manic episodes without being fully aware of them at the time. “She starts to realize she’s having it after it happens, and sometimes she doesn’t even remember when it’s happening,” the producer explained.

Blanco also highlighted the sensitivity of addressing these episodes. “It’s such a delicate thing because… technically you shouldn’t talk to the person while they’re in it,” he noted.

Far from feeling ashamed,Gomez learned to recognize and accept this facet of her condition. “I’m equally proud to say that I have manic moments,” she declared. “I’m not ashamed of them at all, because I can catch them a little faster.” The singer attributed some of her stability to her husband’s understanding. “It helps to have a partner who understands,” she added. Selena Gomez, who announced her diagnosis in 2020 during an Instagram Live with Miley Cyrus, described that initial discovery as a relief, though not an easy path. Now, with more perspective, she says that understanding her condition has allowed her to live more authentically. “All the hypocrisy of shaming people for therapy, or for not understanding it, is that it’s just not for you,” she reflected. “But for me, it finally allowed me to think, ‘Oh, that’s why I handled things the way I did.’” That's why everyone else was able to overcome it quickly, and I wasn't.”

The actress acknowledged that before her diagnosis, her behavior was erratic. “I acted out of fear, I acted out of love, I acted out of passion—everything was inconsistent. It was crazy,” she admitted.

Gomez concluded with a message of encouragement for those going through similar situations, emphasizing that a mental health condition does not define a person.

“You are not defined by a term,” she stated. “It is simply informative to seek out, talk about, and listen to podcasts or listen to certain things that will help you gain information. I think there is a lot of hope.”