It’s no secret that throughout her time in the spotlight, Selena Gomez has been super open about her struggles with anxiety and depression. On Friday, April 3, the former Wizards of Waverly Place star revealed that she was actually diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Talking to fellow Disney Channel alum Miley Cyrus on a recent episode of her Instagram Live show “Bright Minded,” the 27-year-old gave advice to fans who also might be suffering with mental health issues and explained that being informed about her diagnosis helped her the most.

“Recently, 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 and so, when I got to know more information, it actually helps me. It doesn’t scare me once I know it and I think people get scared of that,” she said. “When I finally said what I was gonna say, I wanted to know everything about it and it took the fear away.”

She continued, “When I was younger, I was scared of thunderstorms and my mom bought me all these different books on thunderstorms, so she’s like, ‘The more that you educate yourself on this, the more that you’re not gonna be afraid’ and it completely worked and that’s kind of something that helps me big time.”

Previously, the “Lose You to Love Me” songstress opened up about how empowering it was to learn about the mental health conditions she was struggling with.

“I had low self-esteem, and that’s something I work on continuously. But I feel so empowered because I’ve gained so much knowledge about what was going on mentally. My highs were really high, and my lows would take me out for weeks at a time.” she explained to Wall Street Journal in January 2020. “I found out I do suffer from mental health issues, and honestly, that was such a relief. I realized that there was a way to get help and to find people that you trust. I got on the right medication, and my life has been completely changed.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Love J-14? Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun, exclusive videos with your favorite stars.