Why Selena Gomez Is Taking A Break From Music After Her ‘Revival’ Tour

Selena Gomez is taking some time off for herself.

The “Same Old Love” songstress, 24, has announced that she will be taking a break from concerts and music for a while to cope with panic attacks, anxiety, depression and the other side effects of her lupus diagnosis, E! News reported. In her statement, Gomez, who revealed she was diagnosed with the condition that causes inflammation of the skin last year, confessed that the psychological and mental effects of her disease were getting too much for her to handle.

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

Gomez went on to express her gratitude toward her loyal fans and explain how important it is for her to take a break from show business at this time. She also encouraged those who were suffering from the same affliction to seek help.

"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,” she added. “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."

Lupus Research Alliance co-CEO and co-president Kenneth M. Farber talked about Gomez’s condition. It’s no surprise that Gomez was taken by surprise by the mental and psychological issues brought by lupus because, according to Farber, the side effects of the disease are not commonly known. “We are so proud of Selena for taking care of herself and bringing awareness to this sometimes very misunderstood illness,” he told People.

There was also speculation that Gomez’s career break might be motivated by something else. However, an insider assured the news outlet that her leave is not related to "alcohol or substance abuse." According to the source, Justin Bieber’s ex-girlfriend “hadn’t felt like herself lately” and thus needed to get away from the limelight. "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,” the insider said.

Last year, Gomez revealed her lupus diagnosis in the October 2015 issue of Billboard magazine. In the interview, she also confessed that she had been dealing with a lot of health issues and had been undergoing treatment during her hiatus, including chemotherapy.

"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," she told Billboard. "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," she recalled.