Selena Gomez no longer sleeps in her own bedroom: 'I am a very anxious person'

Selena Gomez is opening up about how her mental health difficulties have affected her connection with her family.

Specifically, the Only Murders in the Building actor explained why she no longer feels comfortable sleeping in her bedroom.

Selena Gomez.

Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

"I spent too much time in my bedroom that I actually don't even sleep in my bedroom anymore," Selena remarked at Wondermind's inaugural virtual Mental Fitness Summit on World Mental Health Day Oct. 10, "because I associate it with such a really dark time."

The 32-year-old went on, "Being nervous can be so draining at times. For years, I didn't want to leave my bed, and part of the reason was that I wasn't working. You must believe in yourself and do the work that would educate you just a little."

Selena also described the sleepless night she spent shortly before the summit.

"As recent as last night, I was in bed and I couldn't fall asleep 'til about four, and it was just because my mind was simply racing," she told me. "I just kept saying, 'This will pass.'" 'Just let it pass through your body and it will go gone,' and of course, I fell asleep."

Selena, who has previously spoken about her difficulties with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, says she finds it of help to discuss her struggles with close friends, her therapist, and her mother, Mandy Teefey, with whom she cofounded Wondermind.

"I still have days where I need my mom, like, my mommy," Selena confessed. "And then there are also moments for me, I just allow myself to be vulnerable and cry and just talk it out."

The former Disney Channel star also discussed the liberation she felt after opening out about her mental health struggles.

"I tend to isolate. There are times, of course, when you need to be alone and feel things," she explained. "I refused to accept help. And I felt completely free to share all I'd been going through since I know other people feel the same way."

She added, "And I hope no one ever looks at me and thinks, 'Oh, her life is perfect.' Because that is simply not true. I'm grateful, and my life is really good. But we are all human, and emotions are quite genuine. I believe it is important to discuss and educate people about it."