Demi Lovato has been open about her struggles with substance use, suicidal thoughts, bipolar disorder, and disordered eating. Despite facing co-occurring disorders, she has found happiness, hope, and purpose in her journey. Growing up as a child star on shows like Barney & Friends and Disney Channel, she faced pressures that led her to misuse substances as a coping mechanism. Lovato went in and out of multiple rehabilitation programs but continued to pour her pain into her performances and music.
Open about her journey to sobriety, Lovato candidly shared her struggles with a relapse in her 2018 song “Sober”. In 2018, she overdosed on a mixture of opioids, heroin, and fentanyl, which led to strokes and a heart attack. After this near-death experience, her perspective on life shifted, and she continues to speak out about her journey through co-occurring disorders, finding love, and her engagement to Canadian musician, Jutes. Lovato expressed feeling happier than ever before and being in a great place in her life.
Struggles with mental health started at a young age for Lovato, who recalls dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts as early as age seven. Bullying in seventh grade further exacerbated her mental health issues, leading her to a dark place. Coping mechanisms like alcohol misuse and later experimenting with cocaine became a part of her life. In therapy, she received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at age 18, which brought relief as she could finally put a name to her struggles.
Finding the right medication for her bipolar disorder was key in Lovato’s journey to managing her mental health. She emphasized the importance of advocating for proper diagnosis and treatment, as it can take years to find the right medication that works for an individual. Despite facing bouts of mania and challenges with sleepless nights, she has found stability through medication and other healthy coping mechanisms. Lovato encourages women struggling with mental illness to know that it is possible to live well and find happiness despite the challenges.
Throughout multiple stays in rehabilitation programs, Lovato faced struggles with disordered eating and issues around food. She revealed the ongoing battle with food in her social media series Cooking with Demi and shared her journey to feel comfortable in her skin. Despite not reaching the end goal of endless love and acceptance for her body, she acknowledged the progress she has made and encouraged others to continue fighting for self-acceptance. Finding joy in the little things in life and taking steps towards recovery have helped Lovato see the light past the darkness in her mental health journey.
In her recovery journey, Lovato emphasized not letting her mental health or treatment define her. She sees her struggles as a part of what has shaped her into who she is today but not as her identity. Grateful for what she has overcome, she continues to advocate for mental health awareness and encourage others to seek help when needed. For those struggling with mental health or substance use issues, immediate intervention is crucial, and resources like the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or the SAMHSA National Helpline are available for support.
