Selena Gomez is opening up about the \u201creally difficult time\u201d that she endured last year.<\/p>\n
In August, PEOPLE reported that Gomez, 24, took a career break after suffering from \u201canxiety, panic attacks and depression\u201d due to her lupus diagnosis. At the same time that the superstar took off time to care for herself, her new Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why<\/em> \u2014 which addresses serious topics including depression and suicide \u2014 was at the beginning of production.<\/p>\n \u201cI was actually going through a really difficult time when they started production,\u201d Gomez, who serves as an executive producer on the new drama, said Wednesday at a Netflix press event, The Hollywood Reporter <\/em>reports. \u201cI went away for 90 days and I actually met tons of kids in this place that we\u2019re talking about a lot of the issues that these characters are experiencing.\u201d<\/p>\n In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE last summer, Gomez said, \u201cAs many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways. I\u2019ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n During the singer and actress\u2019 90-day break, Gomez revealed that she gave up her phone for the three month period, which she described as \u201cthe most refreshing, calming, rejuvenating feeling.\u201d Although Gomez has since returned to engaging with fans on Instagram, and holds the title of the most followed person on the photo-sharing app, she is still not too keen on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard right now. I can\u2019t stand social media, I can\u2019t stand what they\u2019re looking at,\u201d said Gomez. \u201cI can\u2019t stand what they think is reality and the show is real as it could possibly get.\u201d<\/p>\n Based off of the popular book, Gomez\u2019s new show tells the story of a young woman who commits suicide, but leaves behind 13 cassette tapes for all the people who contributed to her death.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, kids don\u2019t care. They don\u2019t care,\u201d Gomez said, and added of the series, \u201cThey have to see something that\u2019s going to scare them. They need to see something that\u2019s frightening.<\/p>\n \u201cI want them to understand it,\u201d continued Gomez. \u201cI would do anything to be able to have a good influence on this generation but I definitely relate to everything that was going on. I was there for the last episode and I was a mess just seeing it all come to life because I\u2019ve experienced that.\u201d<\/p>\n She added: \u201cMy hope for 13 Reasons Why<\/em> is \u2026 they can have these conversations about these incredibly difficult and really life-or-death topics without starting from the place of fear or having to protect their own secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n At the end of January, Gomez took to Instagram to share a sneak peek of the new Netflix series \u2014 and why she was \u201cnervous as hell\u201d about it.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was the day I was nervous as hell going into @Netflix for the first time to talk about @13reasonswhy,\u201d Gomez captioned a serious-faced selfie. \u201cMy mom found this book in 2009 and worked her ass off to make it with me, guide me and tell this story authentically (the only reason, beside Jay this project was even made).\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n Selena Gomez Addresses the \u2018Difficult Time\u2019 She Went Through Last Year \u2014 and Why She \u2018Can\u2019t Stand Social Media\u2019 Selena Gomez is opening up about the \u201creally difficult time\u201d that she endured last year. In August, PEOPLE reported that Gomez, 24, took a career break after suffering from \u201canxiety, panic attacks and depression\u201d due to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11480,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[611],"tags":[528],"yoast_head":"\n