Mariah Carey released her debut album, "Mariah Carey," in 1990. It became a huge hit, selling more than 6 million copies.

From there, her rise to fame took off. In 1991, she won 2 Grammy awards: Best Vocal Pop Performance, Female, and Best New Artist.

Amongst her most recognizable hits is her beloved holiday classic, "All I Want For Christmas Is You."

From her sold-out live performances to her famously glamorous and frequently risqué fashion

choices, Carey is undeniably a music and fashion icon whose private life could often be seen in headlines and on magazine covers.

Now, however, after decades in the public eye, the singer is coming forward with an acknowledgement she's kept private for years: she was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder in 2001.

In that same year, Carey, then 31, was hospitalized for an "emotional and physical breakdown." She spent 2 weeks under supervised care and cancelled all public engagements.

In an interview with "People," Carey opened up about living with the diagnosis — and why she chose to go public with it.

“Until recently I lived in

denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” she said.  “It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore."

"I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love — writing songs and making music," Carey continued.

After so

many years of suffering in silence, "People" reports that the singer is now in therapy and taking medication for bipolar II disorder.

The singer, who is also a mom of 2, said that she is "in a really good place right now, where I’m comfortable discussing my struggles with bipolar II disorder."

Carey's brave decision to come forward with her diagnosis comes at a time when many celebrities — Bella Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, and Lena Dunham notably amongst them — are choosing

to discuss their health battles and journeys.

"I’m hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone," Carey said.

"It can be incredibly isolating."

The superstar now joins the conversation on mental health, and, importantly, on living with mental disorders.

"It does not have to define you and I refuse to allow it to

define me or control me," she notes.