In a new song and Instagram post, Halsey has spoken out about their recent health struggles, revealing they underwent treatment for an illness they haven’t yet disclosed.
“Long story short, i’m Lucky to be alive. short story long, i wrote an album. it begins with The End. out now,” the artist wrote in an Instagram post that included multiple videos of them receiving treatment via IV or talking about being sick. In one of the videos, Halsey says they “feel like an old lady,” as they rub their legs in clear discomfort, a bandage around their elbow. “I told myself I’m giving myself two more years to be sick,” they say to the camera. “At 30, I’m having a rebirth and I’m not gonna be sick and I’m gonna look super hot and have lots of energy and I’m just gonna get to re-do my 20s in my 30s.”
Halsey tagged the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Lupus Research Alliance in their post, though it’s not immediately clear what their diagnosis is.
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In their new song, “The End,” the singer discusses a long processes of health issues. “Every couple of years now, a doctor says I’m sick, pulls out a brand new bag of tricks and then they lay it on me,” the song begins, naming Halsey’s brain and skeleton as apparent sources of their struggles. In 2022, Halsey shared that they were diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). They’ve also spoken openly about dealing with endometriosis.
The singer also mentions feeling ignored by doctors in the song, something many chronically ill people understand. “And in the water there’s the doctor who didn’t listen to my claim, what a shame. He’s circling the drain,” they sing. There are many reported accounts of patients with chronic illnesses being dismissed by doctors, having their symptoms ignored in ways that are damaging to their health. It’s not clear what Halsey’s current experience has been, but in the past they’ve said doctors downplayed and misdiagnosed their endometriosis symptoms.
“The End” will appear on Halsey’s forthcoming album. You can listen to the track here.
This story originally appeared on Teen Vogue.