Due to the toll that Selena Gomez’s kidney transplant from last summer has taken on her physical, mental and emotional health, she has decided to seek help to control her panic attacks and emotional breakdowns that have occurred over the past few weeks. Selena was found to have a low white cell blood count, which is common in people who have received kidney transplants. Fatigued and weak, she was immediately admitted to the hospital twice in one week. The pop star is currently receiving treatment through dialectical behavior therapy, a type of therapy that tries to adjust one's way of thinking, from negative to positive.
The former Disney Channel star has been battling with lupus since 2013 and let her fans know about her struggle through an Instagram post that revealed her kidney transplant, according to PEOPLE. Lupus can be a life-threatening disease, where the immune system attacks parts of your body, such as the lungs, skin and kidney. It affects mostly women and ranges in severity.
Realizing that she needed her family and friends for support, they rallied around her and have been a strong force in her life as she navigates through the complications of her transplant. Page Six has also reported that Selena has dealt with depression and anxiety, majorly affecting the quality of her work and her day-to-day life.
The singer is also taking a hiatus from social media to focus on herself and her health.
"As much as I am grateful for the voice that social media gives each of us, I am equally grateful to be able to step back and live my life present to the moment I have been given," Selena said.
Last summer, one of Selena's best friends and fellow actress, Francia Raisa, was tested in just one day to see if she was a match for Selena, and she was a perfect donor. When Selena suffered from a broken artery due to Francia's active kidney, Francia was right there by her side to lend support. Selena expressed how the operation was supposed to be two hours, but instead turned into a six-hour attempt to save her life given that she could have died. This experience bonded the two women and they now consider each other "sisters," since they now share the same blood.
We wish all the best to Selena and hope to see her happy and healthy again!