by: Bee Delores
Last Updated: September 6, 2024
8 min read
8 min read
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Lady Gaga , born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is no stranger to the public eye. Known for her eccentric style, powerhouse vocals, and powerful performances, Lady Gaga has also been transparent about her struggles.
These have ranged from mental health issues to her battle with chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia . But more recently, Gaga made headlines for revealing that she has stopped using a specific drug.
In this article, I will dive into Lady Gaga’s past, the context of her recent revelation, and how her personal growth has led to a healthier lifestyle.
Let’s get started!
Lady Gaga burst onto the scene in 2008 with her debut album The Fame , which featured chart-topping hits like “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.”
From the beginning, she was known for pushing boundaries—not just musically, but also in fashion and performance art. Her talent for constantly reinventing herself became her brand, keeping fans on their toes.
While her artistry captivated the world, Lady Gaga’s personal life was riddled with struggles. She has openly discussed dealing with anxiety, depression, and the toll that fame has taken on her mental health.
Her vulnerability became a source of strength for many of her fans, as she actively advocated for mental health awareness and self-acceptance.
Aspect | Details |
---|---|
Full Name | Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta |
Stage Name | Lady Gaga |
Date of Birth | March 28, 1986 |
Place of Birth | New York City, USA |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actress, record producer, philanthropist |
Genres | Pop, dance-pop, electronic, jazz |
Education | Tisch School of the Arts (dropped out) |
Career Start | 2008 with debut album The Fame |
Famous Albums | The Fame (2008), Born This Way (2011), Joanne (2016), Chromatica (2020) |
Famous Songs | “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance,” “Shallow,” “Rain on Me” |
Awards | Academy Award, 13 Grammy Awards, Golden Globe, MTV VMAs, Billboard Awards |
Known For | Unique fashion, powerful vocals, LGBTQ+ activism, mental health advocacy |
Philanthropy | Co-founder of the Born This Way Foundation (mental health & youth empowerment) |
Health Challenges | Fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression |
Net Worth | Estimated at $320 million (as of 2024) |
Influences | David Bowie, Queen, Madonna, Michael Jackson |
Personal Style | Bold, avant-garde fashion and art-focused performances |
Gaga has previously opened up about experimenting with drugs in her early career. Like many young artists , she found herself immersed in the fast-paced, hedonistic lifestyle of the music industry, where drugs are often used to cope with stress, anxiety, and the pressures of fame.
In earlier interviews, she admitted to using substances like cocaine during her pre-fame days, describing her experiences as a way to “feel more creative.”
However, she also noted that these substances left her feeling isolated and hindered her ability to connect with others. Gaga recognized the toxic impact drugs had on her mental well-being, and she began distancing herself from substances.
In her most recent interview, Gaga revealed that she has stopped using marijuana, a drug that had become a crutch in her life over the years.
Marijuana , often considered a ‘soft drug,’ is typically seen as less harmful than substances like cocaine or heroin. However, Lady Gaga’s relationship with the drug wasn’t without its complications.
She admitted that she relied on marijuana to cope with chronic pain caused by her fibromyalgia—a condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas.
Gaga has been vocal about her struggles with this debilitating illness, which has affected her physical and mental health. For many years, she used marijuana as a way to manage her symptoms and relax her mind.
But in recent years, she realized that her dependency on the drug was no longer serving her. Instead of aiding her healing process, it became a hindrance.
She confessed that she was using marijuana to numb her emotional and physical pain and that she wasn’t addressing the root causes of her issues.
“I’ve changed a lot,” Gaga shared. “It wasn’t helping me grow anymore. I needed to feel everything to heal.”
Marijuana has been a topic of debate for decades, particularly as it relates to medical use. Proponents argue that it can provide relief for chronic pain, nausea, and anxiety, among other conditions.
It is often prescribed to individuals suffering from ailments like cancer , multiple sclerosis, and, in Gaga’s case, fibromyalgia.
In Gaga’s situation, marijuana likely offered temporary relief from the severe muscle pain and fatigue that comes with fibromyalgia.
This condition is known for being difficult to treat, and many individuals turn to alternative forms of medicine, including cannabis, when traditional medications fail to provide relief.
However, while marijuana can have medicinal benefits, it can also lead to dependency if used as a form of emotional escape rather than as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
In Gaga’s case, the drug began to mask her underlying emotional issues, particularly her trauma and anxiety. This realization led her to quit the drug in favor of other, healthier coping mechanisms.
Lady Gaga: “I was smoking up to 15-20 marijuana cigarettes a day with no tobacco”
by u/stillalive4now in LadyGaga
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that affects an estimated 4 million adults in the United States alone. While the exact cause is unknown, it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The condition is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties often referred to as “fibro fog.”
Lady Gaga has been candid about her battle with the disorder, which led her to cancel several performances during her 2017 Joanne World Tour. In her Netflix documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two , she gave fans a glimpse of her daily struggle with the illness, showing her in moments of intense pain and vulnerability.
The singer has been open about how fibromyalgia has affected both her physical and mental health, exacerbating her anxiety and depression.
The connection between chronic pain and mental health is well-documented. Chronic pain can lead to feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and anxiety, which in turn can intensify the perception of pain.
In many cases, individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia are prescribed painkillers, muscle relaxants, or antidepressants to manage their symptoms. For Gaga, marijuana became a way to escape both the physical and emotional toll of her condition.
The decision to stop using marijuana marks a significant step in Lady Gaga’s ongoing journey toward healing—both physically and emotionally.
In interviews, she has expressed how this change has allowed her to grow as a person and connect more deeply with herself.
“I needed to feel my pain, not numb it,” Gaga explained. “When you stop hiding from the pain, the healing can begin.”
Gaga has also spoken about the importance of therapy and meditation in her recovery. Over the years, she has adopted a more holistic approach to managing her mental and physical health, incorporating practices like yoga, acupuncture, and mindful meditation into her routine.
These practices have helped her manage her fibromyalgia symptoms more effectively and allowed her to confront her trauma head-on.
By turning to healthier methods of coping, she is not only healing herself but also setting an example for her fans, many of whom look up to her as a source of inspiration.
One of the central themes of Lady Gaga’s journey is the importance of self-care. In an industry that glorifies constant work and perfection, it can be difficult to prioritize personal well-being.
But Gaga’s decision to step back from marijuana, and more importantly, to focus on her mental health, shows that self-care is essential for long-term success.
Self-care means different things to different people, but for Lady Gaga, it means being honest with herself about her struggles and taking the necessary steps to address them.
It’s about recognizing when something, whether it’s a drug, a habit, or even a relationship, is no longer serving you and making the difficult choice to let it go.
Lover of hiking, biking, horror movies, cats and camping. Writer at Wide Open Country, Holler and Nashville Gab.
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