Demi Lovato Describes Her “Year of Growth” in Powerful Essay

Demi Lovato opened up about her advocacy work for mental health and racial injustice in a powerful essay for Vogue.

In a personal essay published on September 1, Demi opened up about her mental health and ensured Americans that they are not alone. The singer started off addressing the situation amidst the global pandemic. She wrote how depression and mental health have always been a part of her history and how the pandemic only worsened her anxiety.

Demi wrote, “I was suddenly confronted with all these questions: ‘When are we going to go back to work?’ ‘Are more people going to have to die?’ ‘How bad is this going to get?’ Everything was so suddenly out of my control and not just for me individually, but for us as a global community.”

She revealed that because of her anxiety, it was difficult for the singer to go to sleep at night. However, with the help of her fiance, Max Ehrich, Demi started new healthy habits which made her feel better. She said she incorporated meditation, yoga, journaling, painting, and a nighttime ritual with candles and essential oils.

Although the pandemic has been hard for everybody, Demi says there is a positive thing about it. The singer said that it has shone a light upon mental health in a way like never before. Demi explained, “For so many years, mental illness was seen as shameful. I certainly felt ashamed; I was made to feel ashamed. This comes from ignorance. People just didn’t understand what it was, people were scared of words such as anxiety and depression.”

Demi Opens Up About Racial Injustice

Demi wrote that the more we are learning about mental health, the better we will be able to manage it as a public crisis. She said that education and the language we use around mental health is crucial. The singer says everything that has happened in 2020 has felt like a moment of change.

However, Demi says it has never been more important to spread awareness about the issues that matter. And one of those important issues has been racial injustice. Demi said she could not attend the Black Lives Matter protests because she falls under the ‘at-risk’ category for coronavirus because of her asthma. However, the singer has been spreading awareness with her social media handle which has around 92 million followers.

“I’ve always taken my advocacy work seriously, but now I’m looking at it with renewed focus,” she wrote. The singer notes that in this instance, she got motivation from knowing how much of her comes from the Black culture. Demi explains that she grew up listening to Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and other soulful singers. But something that stood out from those two Black women was what shaped her to become a vocalist.

The ‘Sober’ singer says all that she has achieved is because of the inspiration those two women gave her. She said, “I continue to be constantly inspired by people of color today.” Demi continued that here she was being able to sing and have money for a roof while people of color are fearing for their lives every day. 

The singer said this triggered her to remind herself of her privilege. She wrote, “I felt an overwhelming responsibility to help spread awareness about this injustice, so I began posting things that I thought would educate people.”

“Nobody’s had a perfect 2020”- Demi

Demi wrote that even if she doesn’t have all the answers, she is hopeful for the future. She reminds us that the power for the future and the change is in the hands of Americans. The singer wrote although 2020 has been really tough for everybody, it is okay for things to not be okay sometimes. She wrote reflecting on her ‘Year of Growth’ in a new decade.

Demi wrote, “Personally, I’ve experienced extreme highs and lows. I met my fiancé in March and I fell in love with him…But I’ve also lost several people this year, which was tough.” She further added that she wants to be a better person and inspire people in so many ways. The singer says she wants to leave the world in a better place than when she first got here.

Demi concluded, “There are a lot of things that need to be done before that, but together I believe we can make it happen. You just need to be a little bit hopeful.”