Selena Gomez says she's taking time off her career due to anxiety and depression stemming from her Lupus diagnosis

Singer and actress Selena Gomez has revealed that she'll be taking time away from the entertainment scene as a precautionary measure, as her Lupus disease can bring forth side effects such as panic attacks, depression and anxiety.

"As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways,  I've discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges''. The 24-year-old told People, who first reported the story.

 She continues

"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. Thank you to all my fans for your support. 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. I know I am not alone by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues.

Last year in an interview with Billboard magazine for their October 2015 issue, Selena revealed she had been diagnosed with Lupus and had even undergone chemotherapy.

Her last post on Instagram was two weeks ago.