'It doesn't scare me': Selena Gomez opens up about bipolar diagnosis

The singer revealed the news during a social media interview with Miley Cyrus, saying she felt 'equal parts terrified and relieved'

FILE - In this Jan 11, 2020 file photo, Selena Gomez attends the premiere of "Dolittle" in Los Angeles. Gomez says she was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The 27-year-old spoke about her diaShow more

Selena Gomez revealed she had bipolar disorder diagnosed, and understanding the condition had "taken the fear away".

The singer and actress opened up about the diagnosis while appearing on Miley Cyrus's Bright Minded series on Instagram.

The Lose You To Love Me singer, 27, said the condition had been confirmed after visiting doctors at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts.

"I discussed that after years of going through a lot of different things, I realised that I was bipolar," says explained in the interview, which was filmed for Cyrus's IGTV.

The star, who has appeared in films such as Spring Breakers, said the diagnosis had left her feeling "equal parts terrified and relieved".

"Terrified because the veil was lifted but relieved that I finally had the knowledge of why I had suffered with various depressions and anxieties for so many years," she says.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder typically include severe high and low moods, depression, sleep issues and anxiety. Subsequently learning about the disorder has made Gomez come to terms with the diagnosis, she told Cyrus.

"When I have more information, it actually helps me, it doesn't scare me once I know it," Gomez says.

The singer, who shot to fame as a young actress on Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place, also urged listeners to nurture their mental health.

"I'm from Texas, it's just not known to talk about mental health," she says. "You got to seem cool. And then I see anger built up in children and teenagers or young adults because they are wanting that so badly.

"I just feel like when I finally said what I was going to say, I wanted to know everything about it. And it took the fear away."

Gomez, who also suffers from the autoimmune disease lupus and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, has previously opened up about her mental health.

In 2016, she revealed on social media she was taking a career break to “focus on maintaining my health and happiness” after experiencing “anxiety, panic attacks and depression”.

Gomez also told Vogue in 2017 that being on tour had affected her mental health.

"I started to have panic attacks right before getting on stage, or right after leaving the stage," she told the magazine. "Basically I felt I wasn’t good enough, wasn’t capable. I felt I wasn’t giving my fans anything, and they could see it — which, I think, was a complete distortion."

She also said in 2019 that she was a "big believer in therapy".

“I go to therapy," Gomez said. "It’s just one of the most important things – to get to know yourself. Not saying everyone in the world has to do it, but I do think that it’s helped me understand myself and my childhood a lot better.”