Bebe Rexha Opens Up About Struggle With Bipolar Disorder

In a recent interview with Self Magazine, Bebe Rexha expanded more on her struggles with bipolar disorder.

The star originally opened up about the diagnosis last April. This was not the first time the star had addressed having mental health struggles, but it was the first time she gave a name to her specific diagnosis. For years, Rexha knew that she was struggling with something mental, but she didn’t want to know exactly what she was dealing with because she did not want the diagnosis to define her. Rexha states that she has bipolar I, which is characterized by manic episodes that can bring a person’s mood and energy to extreme highs, along with depressive episodes that involve severe lows, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains.

Bebe Rexha said she does not allow for her diagnosis to control her life, instead using it in order to educate others. She felt that opening up to her fans kept her from feeling imprisoned by the disorder. Lyrics from previous songs have hinted at Rexha’s mental health, but she has stated that she will get more personal in her upcoming music. In her interview with Self, Rexha shared some lyrics from a song off her upcoming album.

“It goes like, ‘Hello, my name is Stevie. / Actually, I’m lying. It’s really Bebe. / It’s the meds. They make me really sleepy. / Klonopin, my friend, yeah, she numbs the feeling,’” Rexha says. “And then it’s, ‘My doctor upped my dosage. / My mom felt bad, so she sent me roses. / But without it, I get really hopeless, / and 5.7 of Americans know it.’”

Rexha really wanted to hit on the fact that so many people deal with mental health issues. She is not the only pop artist to be so open about her mental health issues. Olivia O’Brien has numerous songs that address her battle with depression. Songs of O’Brien’s such as “Sad Together” and “Empty” nod to O’Brien’s struggle with suicidal thoughts. Rexha and O’Brien’s bravery in being so open with their fans will hopefully inspire those with mental health problems to be just as brave.