Selena Gomez has been through a lot in the past few months. Not only has she been traveling for her Revival World Tour, but she’s also endured some major drama with ex-BF Justin Bieber and bestie Taylor Swift. Now, Gomez is taking time off to deal with anxiety and depression that stems from her lupus diagnosis.
In a statement released to PEOPLE, Gomez explains, “As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways. I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges.”
She continues, “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. 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.”
Gomez was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease, and treated with chemotherapy during a previous career break in 2013.
We hope that this time off will be just what Selena needs to come back stronger and better than ever.