I think I knew for years: Lil Nas X on finally accepting his bipolar diagnosis
American rapper Montero Lamar Hill, famously known as Lil Nas X, has opened up about his mental health journey, revealing that he is now in a better place after accepting his bipolar disorder diagnosis and seeking professional help.
The Grammy-winning artiste, in a video shared on Thursday, June 18, 2026, said he feels he may have known about his condition for years before officially acknowledging it but initially struggled with acceptance due to fear of medication and how people might perceive him.
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“I really wanted to talk to you guys first about where I have been. When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I felt like I had known for like the past few years, but I did not want to admit to it because I did not want to take medication and, I don’t know, have people think differently of me,” Lil Nas X opened up.
He also spoke about the weight of identity and stigma, adding that being a Black, gay man already comes with challenges, and dealing with bipolar disorder felt like an added layer of difficulty in his life.
“I mean, I am already Black and gay. Black, gay, and bipolar, I am like living life on like extreme hard mode,” he shared candidly.
Recovery journey
Despite the challenges, Lil Nas X said he is currently doing much better and feels more grounded, creative and less fearful than before.
“I am doing much better, am feeling better, am creating freely, and there is less fear in my heart,” he said.
The rapper also revealed that he now has both a therapist and a psychiatrist, which he described as a very helpful support system in his recovery journey.
“I have a therapist now and a psychiatrist, which has been very helpful,” Lil Nas X added.
He further shared that he spent a few months in rehab and has since returned home, spending time between Atlanta with family and Los Angeles with friends as he works on grounding himself and focusing on his well-being.
“I have been in rehab for a few months, and since then I have been back at home, whether it is Atlanta with my family or in Los Angeles with myself or friends, and trying to ground myself down to earth and get out of my head,” he stated.
Music comeback
Lil Nas X also teased new music, saying fans can expect fresh work soon, even though he is not ready to fully dive into it yet.
“It has been seven years; I have been doing music for seven years now, and I want to let you guys know that there is new music on the way, and I am not getting completely to that just yet but am excited to do that and am excited to go through this journey,” he added.
