Despite what you think of him, Justin Bieber hasn’t had it easy, and fans have noticed. In early 2025, paparazzi caught him on the street looking rough: red-eyed, thin, and spaced out. Then a TikTok surfaced showing him acting strange with a fan, which led people to speculate he might’ve relapsed or wasn’t doing well mentally.
The timing didn’t help. Rumors were already flying about financial troubles and the stress of becoming a new dad. Some fans chalked it up to sleepless nights with a baby. Still, fans are worried, and not without reason. Justin’s had a long history of health struggles, both mental and physical. But when you add it all up, it paints a picture of someone who’s been through the wringer and is still trying to find solid ground.
1. Addiction: A Dark Chapter
Justin Bieber faced a serious battle with substance abuse—there’s no way around it. His struggles began at just 13 years old, and by his early twenties, he was hooked on Xanax and using it to escape feelings of shame and anxiety. In interviews, he admitted it got so bad that his security team had to check his pulse at night to make sure he was still alive.
Eventually, JB realized the road he was on wasn’t sustainable. Getting clean wasn’t easy, but he did it slowly, painfully, and publicly. His honesty about that journey has helped fans understand just how dangerous things had gotten behind the scenes.
2. Lyme Disease
In 2020, Bieber revealed he had Lyme disease. For years, he’d been feeling fatigued, foggy, physically drained, and no one could figure out why. People thought he was using drugs again, but nope, he had Lyme disease—a nasty ailment caused by tick bites that can be hard to diagnose. Bieber underwent numerous tests and even received a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder during this journey. It wasn’t until a brain scan ruled that out that doctors started looking at other explanations.
3. Then Came Chronic Mono
On top of Lyme disease, doctors found Justin also had chronic mononucleosis. Mono is usually something teenagers get once, recover from, and move on with their lives. However, in Justin’s case, it affected his energy, brain function, and immune system.
Hailey Bieber spoke about how hard it was to see him so sick for no apparent reason. Justin later addressed the rumors, saying his mono and Lyme disease were to blame for his appearance, not the drugs. Mono can reactivate due to stress or a weakened immune system, and Justin was experiencing both of these issues.
4. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome: A Scary Setback
In 2022, fans were shocked when Justin posted a clip explaining why he had to cancel shows: half of his face was paralyzed. He had Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. He couldn’t smile, blink, or move one side of his face. Treatment can take weeks or months, and in some cases, full recovery isn’t guaranteed.
Fortunately, by March 2023, he shared a small but important update showing he could finally crack a smile. He posted a video flashing a grin to prove he’d recovered. But the whole thing was another reminder that his health has been anything but predictable.
5. Depression: The Fame Crash
With everything going on, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed or even fall into depression. In a 2019 Instagram essay, he reflected on how growing up famous left him emotionally stunted. Everyone did everything for him, so when it came time to function as an adult, he had no real-world tools. He admitted to feeling worthless and miserable, like life didn’t make sense anymore. Despite his success and fame, he still found it difficult to rise from his bed on certain days.
6. The Impostor Syndrome Spiral
In 2025, Bieber posted a particularly raw message on Instagram, expressing his frequent feelings of inauthenticity. Despite the praise and success, he confessed to feeling unworthy and was worried that people wouldn’t admire him if they knew his “selfish” thoughts or internal struggles.
This is a classic case of impostor syndrome, where people doubt their achievements and feel like they’re faking their way through life. It’s more common than you think, with some studies claiming up to 80% of people feel this way at some point.
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