Selena Gomez reveals she cannot sleep in her bedroom, says it reminds her of 'bad times'

Pop diva Selena Gomez recently opened up on her struggles with mental health. On World Mental Health Day, the ‘Ice Cream’ hitmaker revealed that poor mental health had affected her sleeping patterns and she was unable to sleep in her bedroom. At the ‘Keynote Conversation’ on Wondermind’s Mental Fitness Summit, the ‘Only Murder In The Building’ star that although the bedroom was supposed to be a safe space, it triggered many bad memories in her. “I’m a little bit different than my mom, because I spent too much time in my bedroom that I actually don’t even sleep in my bedroom anymore, because I associate it with such a really dark time.." she said.

In a previous interview with Rolling Stone, she openly talked about her complicated relationship with her bed, sharing how her struggles with depression often led to isolation. "It would start with depression, then turn into isolation, and eventually, I couldn’t even leave my bed," she recalled. "Sometimes, I’d stay there for weeks, and even walking downstairs would leave me short of breath."

During a more recent discussion on Wondermind, she revisited those difficult memories, explaining why she no longer sleeps in her bedroom. "I’m a very anxious person," she admitted. "It feels like doomsday at times, but having a positive dialogue with yourself, even if it sounds strange, can really make a difference. Before stepping out of the car when I know there’s going to be noise and chaos, I have to take a breath and remind myself, 'This is a gift. I might not feel up for it, but every time I make someone smile, it makes my day better.'"

She went on to explain how she’s different from her mother, noting, "I spent so much time in my bedroom during that dark period that I don’t even sleep there anymore."

Gomez also opened up about how debilitating anxiety can be, sharing that for years she didn’t want to leave her bed because she wasn’t putting in the work needed to heal. "You have to believe in yourself and commit to doing the work that will bring you some clarity," she emphasized.

Reflecting on her relationship with social media, she admitted to deactivating her Instagram multiple times. Over the years, she’s had to unlearn the habit of feeling guilty for not being okay. "I try to take breaks from social media, but I’ve also learned to stop defending myself. I shouldn’t have to apologize for being honest or for saying I’m not okay, and it’s not okay for people to say hurtful things."

Gomez, a long-time advocate for mental health awareness, hasn’t always found it easy to talk about her struggles. In 2022, she released her documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, which offered an unfiltered look into six years of her life and career. The Apple TV+ documentary highlighted her mental health battles, especially her 2018 episode of psychosis. Though she recovered, she was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which doctors believe triggered the psychosis.