Selena Gomez is putting her health first.
In late August, the singer and actress told PEOPLE exclusively she was stepping away from the spotlight to "focus on maintaining my health and happiness" after suffering from "anxiety, panic attacks and depression" as side effects of lupus. Now, multiple sources confirm the star is indeed seeking professional treatment to get back into a positive headspace.
Gomez, 24-who was busy traveling around the world for her Revival World Tourearlier this year-"wasn't in a good place emotionally" before she cleared her calendar for the rest of the year, says a Gomez insider. She has entered rehab during a scheduled break of her Revival tour, according to Us Weekly. It comes after Selena announced in August that she would be cancelling 34 tour dates to deal with "anxiety, panic attacks and depression" - side effects of her lupus diagnosis.
"Selena is dealing with lupus, but this break is to focus on her mental health. She can go to a very dark place," a source told the publication, adding that the star is in a facility just outside Nashville which is a "private and quiet place" but also "super intense".
Selena was pictured for the first time since August in Tennessee at the weekend. Multiple eyewitnesses confirmed that she stopped by the Texas Roadhouse in Alcoa on Saturday afternoon for a meal.
Selena released a statement in August explaining her decision to take a break. "As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways," she told her fans. "I've discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of Lupus, which can present their own challenges.
"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. 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." Gomez said.
Selena - who is currently the most-followed person on Instagram - has been open about her battle with autoimmune disease lupus since 2014. Its symptoms range from mild to life-threatening and include extreme tiredness, rashes (especially on the face, wrists and hands), joint pain and swelling.
After Gomez announced her career break, a source close to the singer told PEOPLE the star's break was "absolutely not related to alcohol or substance abuse" and that she was feeling "optimistic about the future."
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