Selena Gomez has shown signs of strain in the past months, so it’s no surprise to learn that she is taking some time off to focus on improving her mental health.
“As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways,” Gomez said in a statement provided to People Magazine.
“I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges.”
Gomez has been traveling for on her Revival world tour over the past few months.
“I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off,” she continued.
“Thank you to all my fans for your support. You know how special you are to me, but I need to face this head on to ensure I am doing everything possible to be my best.
“I know I am not alone by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues,
Sources close to People stress that Gomez’s decision to take time off and focus on her health has nothing to do with alcohol or substance abuse.
The fact of the matter is that Gomez hasn’t felt like herself since summer began.
“She decided to clear her calendar for the year in order to have this be her priority for future happiness and didn’t want to leave any promoters at bay,” one source said.
“She feels relieved that she can now make more sense of why she was feeling the way she was and is optimistic about the future.”
The Lupus community is 100% behind Gomez’s decision to take care of herself.
Kenneth M. Farber of the Lupus Research alliance told People that the mental health side effects of Lupus aren’t widely known.
“it is not commonly known that depression, anxiety and panic attacks can be side effects of lupus,” Farber – who is co-CEO and co-president of the Alliance – explained.
“We are so proud of Selena for taking care of herself and bringing awareness to this sometimes very misunderstood illness.”
We second that, and commend Gomez for taking time off to focus on herself.
