Selena Gomez Taking Break From Music To Address Side Effects Of Lupus

Selena Gomez plans to take an extended break from music to focus on her health as she continues her ongoing battle with lupus.

Selena Gomez Hiatus For Lupus Recovery

Gomez announced yesterday that she will be putting her career on hold in order address some of the side effects that come along with her lupus diagnosis.

“As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways,” Gomez said in a statement obtained by People magazine. “I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges.”

Gomez added, “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.”

According to an insider, Gomez has freed herself up for the next year in the hopes that the break will leave her healthier and happier.

“She decided to clear her calendar for the year in order to have this be her priority for future happiness and didn’t want to leave any promoters at bay,” the source told People. “She feels relieved that she can now make more sense of why she was feeling the way she was and is optimistic about the future.”

In October of last year, Gomez opened up about the circumstances surrounding her hiatus at the end of 2013 and early 2014, when she learned that she had lupus.

“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 at the time. “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.”