Lady Gaga Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles and the Support of Fiancé Michael Polansky

Global pop sensation Lady Gaga has spoken candidly about her battle with mental health challenges and the long road to recovery in a revealing conversation on The Interview podcast by The New York Times. The multi-award-winning artist, known for her powerhouse vocals and electrifying performances, opened up about the deeply personal struggles that kept her away from music for years.

Gaga, who recently made her much-anticipated return with her new album Mayhem, shared how her mental health significantly impacted her creative journey. Reflecting on her past, she revealed, "[Five years ago], I had psychosis. I was not deeply in touch with reality for a while. It took me out of life in a big way, and after a lot of years of hard work, I got myself back."

The singer also spoke about the pivotal role her fiancé, entrepreneur Michael Polansky, played in her healing journey. She recalled meeting him during her recovery, stating, “It was a hard time, and it was actually really special when I met my partner because when I met Michael, I was in a much better place, but I remember him saying to me, pretty early on, ‘I know you could be a lot happier than you are.’”

She admitted that while those words were difficult to hear, they also made her reflect on her well-being. “It was really hard for me to hear him say that because I didn’t want him to think that of me. I wanted him to think I was like this happy, totally together person,” she shared.

Despite her global fame, the Poker Face hitmaker acknowledged that discussing mental health remains a challenge, particularly in public spaces where stigma still exists. She explained, “It’s something that I have found increasingly harder to talk about. I hate feeling defined by it. It felt like something I felt ashamed of. But I don’t think that we should feel ashamed if we go through times like that. I mostly just wish to say, it can get better. It did for me, and I’m grateful for that.”

Now in a much better place, Gaga expressed gratitude for having Polansky by her side, describing his presence as a positive force in her life. “From the moment that I met Michael, he had the most warm and kind disposition of maybe anyone that I had met in my whole life.”

As she embarks on this new chapter, both personally and professionally, Lady Gaga’s resilience continues to inspire millions, shedding light on the importance of mental health awareness and support.