Selena Gomez Reflects on Her Growth at Wondermind Panel: 'Makes Me Sick to Hear the Things I Was Saying About Myself'
Gomez spoke about her mental health transformation following the release of 'My Mind & Me' at a SXSW panel on Sunday
Selena Gomez is talking about her self-love journey over the past few years!
The "Love On" singer, 31, appeared on a SXSW panel called "Mindfulness Over Perfection: Getting Real On Mental Health" with her mother and Wondermind co-founder Mandy Teefey on Sunday.
When asked by moderator Dr. Jessica Stern if releasing her 2022 Apple TV+ documentary My Mind & Me, which focused on mental health, changed the way she treated herself, Gomez didn't mince words.
"It makes me sick to hear the things that I was saying about myself in the beginning. It bums me out," the Only Murders in the Building star said, noting that the film was shot over six years.
"But I think everybody can relate to that feeling," she continued, adding, "It's important to speak to yourself with kindness, but I don't think I really understood that [at the start of the film]."
My Mind & Me, directed by Alek Keshishian, followed the pop star as she struggled with confidence and body image issues, suicidal thoughts that caused her to cancel a tour and led to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, her life with lupus and burnout she was experiencing as an international celebrity.
Gomez said she was inspired to share her journey and be more authentic after a conversation with Teefey, 47, after they watched Girl, Interrupted and started talking about how strange the entertainment industry is and how Gomez felt like she didn't "fit in."
During the conversation, the "Lose You to Love Me" singer acknowledged that "you can't force someone" to take an honest look at their mental health and treat it before they're ready.
"There was a lot of people that cared about me more than I cared about myself that really wanted me to do things I wasn't ready for. I had my rock bottom, and I had to do it in my time," Gomez said, reflecting on her mental health journey.
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"It took a couple of tries, but I like to think and hope I'm in a much better place now," she added.
Gomez and Teefey founded the online community Wondermind in December 2021 to give people a safe space online to talk about their mental health struggles.
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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