Not too long ago, we penned a blog entry about Taylor Swift’s project to re-record her early albums—using the project as a metaphor for reclaiming your own story from a substance use disorder. Take back your life from drugs or alcohol is a power move, just like Tay-Tay’s refusal to let someone else control her musical legacy.
In this post, we are going to take a look at another powerhouse female artist. Lady Gaga is an amazing artist who has been open about her mental health struggles and efforts to help herself move forward.
The topic is an essential one for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder because recovery is best supported by good mental health. The often intertwined nature of substance use and mental health disorders means that effectively tackling the challenges of one frequently involves taking care of the issues related to the other.
So, what can we learn about mental health from Lady Gaga? Let’s take a look by considering a number of quotes from Gaga covering a 10-year period starting in 2015.
The Importance of Setting Boundaries
From a 2015 message at the Emotion Revolution Summit at Yale University:
“Part of my identity is saying no to things I don’t want to do… I check in with myself throughout the day, and I say, ‘Do I really want to do this?’ and if the answer is no, then I don’t do it. And you shouldn’t either.”
Many of us are bad at setting boundaries in our lives—and that leads to increased stress. In turn, increased stress can chip away at both our physical health and our mental health. Obviously, we all have responsibilities we really can’t say “no” to (like when the boss asks you to take on a new project), but we also have plenty of things we do not have to do if we need to carve out space to protect our mental health. What could you clear from your schedule to give yourself a little more peace?
Get the Help You Need When You Are Struggling
“If you see somebody that’s hurting don’t look away. And if you’re hurting, even though it might be hard, try to find that bravery within yourself to dive deep and go tell somebody and take them up in your head with you.”
It can be hard to ask for help. You might feel embarrassed or like you should be able to take care of your problems—including mental health issues—on your own. But seeking help when it is necessary is, as Lady Gaga points out, a brave thing to do. And having empathy for someone else who is hurting is a good way to build empathy for yourself, too.
Often, Medication Is an Effective Way to Treat a Mental Health Disorder
From a 2020 interview with Oprah Winfrey:
“Medicine really helped me. A lot of people are afraid of medicine for their brains to help them. I really want to erase the stigma around this. I’m sick of saying it over and over again. Not everybody has access to these things, not everybody has money for these things. I want the money for it, I want the best doctors in the world, and I want us to understand the brain and get on the same page about it so Gen Z does not have to deal with this the way we are right now. Mental health is a crisis.”
Some people are reluctant to take medicine to address a mental health disorder for one reason or another. But the fact is that a combination of therapy and medication is generally the best way to approach mental health treatment. In her conversation with Oprah, Lady Gaga argued that we need more investment in research and in projects that make mental health medication available to more people regardless of their financial situation.
You Are Not Defined by a Mental Health Disorder
From a March 2025 interview with The New York Times:
“I hate feeling defined by [mental health challenges]. It felt like something I felt ashamed of. But I don’t think that we should feel ashamed if we go through times like that. I mostly just wish to say, it can get better. It did for me, and I’m grateful for that.”
Sometimes it can feel as though our biggest challenges—the things we most wish we could change about ourselves—define us. For some, that might mean a sense that a mental health struggle is a defining feature of their life. But Lady Gaga reminds us that you can work toward improvement in your mental health and that your current struggles do not define you now. They also do not have to limit who you become in the future.
A ‘Million Reasons’ to Get Help for Difficult Disorders
We borrowed a title from Lady Gaga’s hit to make the point that there are lots and lots of reasons to pursue treatment for a substance use disorder and for co-occurring mental health disorders. At Wooded Glen Recovery Center, located in Henryville, Indiana, we provide evidence-based, personalized treatment for both kinds of challenges. You can rely on our expertise, experience, and empathy to help you reclaim your life and build a brighter future for yourself.