Debbie Gibson at Revels & Revelations 11.Photo:Noam Galai/Getty
Noam Galai/Getty
Debbie Gibsonrefuses to let her health condition get her down.
“I’ve come so far,” the pop singer, 53, tells PEOPLE atBring Change to Mind’s 11th Revels & Revelations event in N.Y.C. on Monday night. “I’ve learned how to manage my symptoms. I’ve learned how to overcome. I’ve never said I’m struggling with Lyme [disease], I say I’m overcoming Lyme. So, I’ve really overcome a lot and I just remain diligent and consumed with my body and my mind and it’s working,” she says.
Debbie Gibson at Bring Change to Mind on Oct. 9, 2023 in New York City.Noam Galai/Getty
“But I went from not even being able to get out of bed and walk to doing 60 concerts this past year,” she continues.
With herWinterliciousholiday shows coming up in December in L.A. and New York, the singer says she keeps pushing herself forward.
“It humbles you when you deal with a major health issue and mental health. We’re all just trying to put one foot in front of the other,” she adds.
Debbie Gibson in 1988.Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty
Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty
The star experienced huge success in the 80s and was theyoungest female artist to write, produce and perform a Billboard No.1 singlewith her tune “Foolish Beat” from her debut 1987 albumOut of the Blue.But she paid a price for that success.
“I had so much going on in my career,” she says, adding that she was diagnosed with depression and anxiety as a teen.
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“I mean, the last thing that anybody thought was that my mental health was being compromised with all the things that I was handling in a very adult world as a child,” Gibson adds. “And you learn as a young person to not complain, like you’re supposed to be sunshine and lollipops all the time.”
Gibson also stresses to PEOPLE the importance of continuing to normalize mental health struggles.
“I would encourage more workplaces to say, ‘mental health 20 minutes, everybody stop’, " she says. “I’ve had some heavy stuff going on in my life and I find myself ducking out at events, going to have a cry in the restroom and coming back. Because that’s life. And you’re not going to be putting on your happy face all the time.”
ActressGlenn Closeand her family started Bring Change to Mind to fight the stigma of mental illness and Monday’s gala — held at N.Y.C’s City Winery — specifically supported teen mental health.
Along with Close, stars in attendance includedReba McEntire,Roy Wood Jr.,Amy Schumer,Whoopi GoldbergandRyan Reynolds. Reynolds received theRobin WilliamsLegacy of Laughter Award in honor of the late comedian.
source: people.com
