Selena Gomez Checks Into Rehab for Mental Health Issues Related to Lupus

Living with a chronic illness can do more than affect your physical body. It can also take a toll on your mental health – something pop star Selena Gomez knows all too well.

In 2013, Gomez was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune condition that can cause chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms. “I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges,” the singer told People back in 2014, after announcing she was taking a break from touring to better manage her health.

In August, the singer announced she would once again be taking a break from touring to deal with side effects of her condition. Now, Gomez is back at a rehab facility in Tennessee to manage the anxiety and depression lupus has caused her.

“Selena is dealing with lupus, but this break is to focus on her mental health,” a source told Us Weekly. “She can go to a very dark place.”

Neither Gomez nor her representatives have yet to comment; however, Gomez has been open about her mental and physical health in the past.

“I was diagnosed with lupus, and I’ve been through chemotherapy. That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke,” Gomez told Billboard in 2015. “I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re a**holes.’ I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again.”

Photo Credit: Alex Goykhman