IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Demi Lovato opens up about living with bipolar disorder

The star, who once said she didn't think she would live to 21, revealed she will celebrate five years of sobriety in March 2017.
/ Source: TODAY

Actress and pop singer Demi Lovato is an open book. She's publicly discussed her struggles with addiction, bulimia and bipolar disorder.

Though it's an ongoing struggle, Lovato recently chatted with People magazine about how she's doing today.

"If you know someone or you're dealing with it yourself, just know that it is possible to live well," Lovato, 24, told People. "I'm living proof of that."

RELATED: Demi Lovato opens up about mental health, addiction: 'Recovery is possible'

The star, who once told American Way magazine she didn't think she would live to 21, revealed she will celebrate five years of sobriety in March 2017.

And though she's thriving, Lovato noted her recovery was still a "work in progress." Her family, friends and treatment team have played a big role.

"It's not something where you see a therapist once or you see your psychiatrist once, it's something you maintain to make sure that you want to live with mental illness," she said. "You have to take care of yourself."

RELATED: Demi Lovato says Disney asked her to 'fix' this feature when she was a teen

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 2.6 percent of the U.S. adult population lives with bipolar disorder. It is characterized by severe shifts in mood, energy and activity levels that effect a person's everyday life.

Lovato is an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and works in conjunction with organizations on behalf of Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health. The group aims to support individuals with mental illness and encourage them to open up and seek help.

RELATED: These women are working to break mental health stereotypes

"I have fans that deal with all sorts of mental illnesses so this is very important to them," Lovato told People. "They're a part of a younger generation who hopefully is going to change the future for the next generation where mental illness won't be so taboo to talk about."