Lady Gaga has lived with fibromyalgia, which causes nerve pain, for years. The “Star Is Born” actor has explained she thinks the physical condition stemmed from the emotional toll of being sexually assaulted — another difficult experience she has been extremely vulnerable about. In other words, she believes her physical health is tied to her mental health, an idea that’s far from novel.
For Gaga, one of the most frustrating aspects of her condition is that people dismiss it, implying that she’s somehow making it up. “I get so irritated with people who don’t believe fibromyalgia is real,” she told Vogue in 2018. “For me, and I think for many others, it’s really a cyclone of anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and panic disorder, all of which sends the nervous system into overdrive, and then you have nerve pain as a result. People need to be more compassionate. Chronic pain is no joke. And it’s every day waking up not knowing how you’re going to feel.”
In 2017, the star disclosed her diagnosis to the world, in the spirit of the honesty she always strives for with her “Little Monsters,” and to announce that she had to cancel her European tour. “As I get stronger and when I feel ready, I will tell my story in more depth, and plan to take this on strongly so I can not only raise awareness, but expand research for others who suffer as I do,” she wrote on Instagram.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
