by Lady Gaga Gets Candid About How Boyfriend Michael Polansky Helped Her Through a Depressive Episode
Lady Gaga has always been open about her struggles with mental health, including dealing with depression and anxiety. In a new revealing interview with Rolling Stone, Gaga opened up about how her boyfriend Michael Polansky helped her through a serious depressive episode while she was working on her latest album “Chromatica.”
Gaga shared that when she first started working on the album, she was feeling extremely lost, unmotivated, and uninspired. She said she didn’t feel like she had anything meaningful to say anymore or any creativity to channel into her music. Her depression left her completely drained and debilitated.
“I felt lifeless and lifeless means no pulse,” Gaga confessed. “When you feel that way you don’t want to move your body. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to think. Nothing was stimulating to me.”
This was one of the darkest periods Gaga had experienced in a long time. She admitted she struggled just to get out of bed in the morning and would lay in bed for hours staring at the ceiling. Her depression sapped away all her usual drive and passion.
“I was in bed for days and just sleeping or screwing around on my phone – anything that would distract me from my pain,” Gaga said. “I felt worthless and hopeless. I didn’t know how to come back from that.”
Gaga shared that during this depressive episode, her boyfriend Michael Polansky became her main source of support and inspiration. She said his unconditional love and belief in her really helped pull her out of the dark place she was in.
According to Gaga, Michael was the one person who never lost faith in her, even when she had completely lost faith in herself. When she was too depressed to create and thought she had nothing left to give, he encouraged her to keep writing and working on her craft.
“Michael was my rock who never abandoned me,” Gaga said. “He patiently listened and gave me the space I needed to work through my feelings. He gently encouraged me to believe in my talents again.”
The singer revealed that Michael helped nurture her back to mental and physical health. He made sure she was eating well, exercising, and sticking to a routine that gave her a sense of regularity and stability.
Slowly but surely, Gaga started to regain her passion, drive, and creativity. With Michael’s unwavering support, she was able to overcome her depressive episode and channel her struggles into finishing “Chromatica.”
“I don’t think I could have done it without Michael’s love,” Gaga admitted. “He inspired me and gave me the strength and courage to create again.”
Gaga said Michael helped her realize that she could take her pain and turn it into art. His belief in her reignited her own belief in herself.
According to Gaga, it was Michael who first encouraged her to be brave, bare her soul, and create music from that vulnerable place. With him by her side, she found the confidence to write raw, honest lyrics about her mental health struggles.
“Michael said my music could empower and heal not just me but my fans too,” Gaga shared. “He helped me see that by sharing my truth, I could help others feel less alone.”
The singer credits Michael for giving her the reassurance she needed to make personal songs like “911” and “Rain on Me” which deal explicitly with her battles with depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Gaga even gave a sweet nod to Michael in the lyrics of “Rain on Me” singing “I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive” which was inspired by one of Michael’s uplifting mantras he would tell her.
Ultimately with Michael’s patient and loving support, Gaga was able to channel her difficulties into cathartic, dance-pop filled anthems and create her most healing body of work yet.
“I can honestly say I wouldn’t have survived creating this album if it wasn’t for Michael’s unconditional love,” she shared. “He gave me the motivation to keep going when I was ready to give up.”
Gaga explained that Michael never made her feel self-conscious or ashamed about what she was going through. He normalized her struggles so she didn’t feel so alone or broken.
“Mental health issues should be normalized – they affect almost everyone,” Gaga said passionately. “No one should feel embarrassed or have to suffer silently. Michael helped me remember that.”
Gaga hopes that by opening up about how Michael helped her, she can encourage more people to support loved ones who are struggling with depression and other mental health issues.
According to Gaga, the most important things are being patient, listening without judgement, encouraging professional help when needed, and reiterating how much you believe in that person.
“Don’t give up on someone who is struggling emotionally,” Gaga advised. “With the right support, they can make it through and accomplish great things. All it takes is one person who gives a damn.”
Gaga said Michael never stopped showing up for her every single day. His gentle words of affirmation and undying belief in her gifted talents meant everything to her during such a challenging chapter.
In the end, Gaga called Michael her “guardian angel” who inspired her to keep fighting. She said that without his friendship and care, she doesn’t know if “Chromatica” and all its themes of resilience ever would have come to fruition.
Gaga and Michael only officially became a couple in late 2019, but she said their friendship and bond formed long before, helping cement the foundation for their romantic relationship.
“He’s been my friend for years. He knows me deeply and still loves me for who I truly am,” Gaga said appreciatively. “I’m so thankful I have his wisdom and love in my life.”
Though they try to keep their relationship private, Gaga confessed she wanted to give a rare glimpse into how meaningful Michael’s support was during her mental health struggles.
She hopes it inspires anyone battling depression and anxiety to keep going, whether with the help of a partner, friend, or mental health professional.
“Don’t give up the fight,” Gaga emphasized. “Surround yourself with people who believe in you even when you don’t believe in yourself. One day the light will break through the clouds again and you’ll be so damn glad you stuck around to see it.”
It’s clear Michael’s patient encouragement was the light that guided Gaga out of the darkness so she could complete her most personal and empowering album yet.
Gaga said without Michael’s unwavering support during this difficult period, she may have never found the strength, inspiration or courage to make “Chromatica” at all – an album meant to uplift and bring joy during hard times.
So in many ways, Gaga has Michael and the power of their loving partnership to thank for helping her overcome her depression and anxiety to create such a musical triumph.
In the end, Gaga summed it up most poignantly saying “Michael was the rain when I was desperate for water and the sunshine when all seemed cloudy. He replenished my soul so I could pour that energy into my music. That’s why he’ll always have a song in my heart.”
Gaga’s story resonates with so many who have faced mental and emotional crises. It’s comforting to know even one of the biggest superstars in the world still has moments of deep vulnerability.
But with supportive loved ones, professional help, and an undying belief in oneself, it’s possible to break through the storm clouds and come out the other side.
Gaga is living proof that you can take your darkest moments and channel them into your most transcendent creations – you just have to keep fighting. Her courage to be so candid about her mental health reminds us we’re never alone. There is light to be found even in the dimmest of days.
The singer hopes that by sharing how Michael’s faith lifted her up, it can lift others up too. There’s nothing stronger than the human spirit when you have love in your corner.
As Gaga affirmed, with patience, compassion and understanding, we all have the power to be someone else’s ray of light during their stormy times. Michael was that ray of light for Gaga. Let’s strive to be that light for someone else who needs it.
