Demi Lovato, 32, reveals the ‘involuntary experience’ she has in common with other former child stars like Drew Barrymore, 49

Demi Lovato has something in common with other former child stars like Drew Barrymore, Kenan Thompson, Raven-Symoné and JoJo Siwa.

The star, who got her start as a child on the TV show Barney & Friends, said she has suffered from the “dissociation” that comes with fame.

Lovato, 32, made the comments on Good morning America on Wednesday while promoting her directorial debut, Child Star.

It’s a documentary about growing up in the entertainment industry.

“I think there were a number of common themes, but one that really fascinated me as I went on this journey was finding out that a lot of us had used the same coping strategy of dissociation, where I think it was a… response to the trauma of fame at such a young age,” she revealed.

Dissociation is a mental process that can make a person feel disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, memories, sense of identity or actions. It can range from mild to severe and can be a normal response to stress or trauma, according to WebMD.

It is also called “involuntary experience”.

“There were just fragments of time, memories and projects we don’t remember working on, which was really fascinating to me,” she continued while modeling a grey Loewe suit.

‘I guess I didn’t understand the level of intensity of fame and how it really affects your brain, your chemistry.’

Lovato, who is an award-winning singer, said “curiosity” made her want to do the project.

She said she spent years thinking about “why people enter the industry at such a young age” and “how it affects us.”

I wanted to take a look at the history of child stars “from Shirley Temple to Jackie Coogan.”

Lovato also told young people that “it’s okay to take breaks.”

Asked what’s next, she said, “I don’t know what my future looks like,” she said, noting that this particular project was “very personal” to her and therefore “it was such a no-brainer.” “I hope to do more of that, yeah.”

‘Child Star,’ which Lovato directed alongside Nicola Marsh, is now streaming on Hulu. Lovato also produced the documentary alongside Michael D. Ratner, Scott Ratner, Miranda Sherman and Kfir Goldberg for OBB Pictures.

Disney is the parent company of Hulu, ABC News and Good Morning America.

Previously, she admitted she feels a sense of ‘existential dread’ about getting older.

The singer, who last year stopped using “they” and “her” pronouns and turned 32 last month, explained that while she is “not worried” about her appearance changing as she ages, she still feels “anxiety” about the process.

This comes just hours after her film Child Star, her directorial debut, premiered on Hulu, telling stories close to her heart after rising to fame on Barney and Friends and Camp Rock.

She said People Tuesday Magazine: ‘Aging is something that, if I think about it too much, can make me anxious, not because I’m worried about how I look or the changes in my body or my face, but because of that existential fear.

“I like to be in the present moment. When we think about things that belong to our past or our future, we are not present, and presence is the greatest gift we can give ourselves.”

Looking ahead to the coming year, the New Mexico native acknowledged that humans “always want what we can’t have,” meaning “sometimes we put pressure on ourselves” simply for not being as young as we once were.

He said that “one day,” hopefully in the very distant future, people will regret wasting time “worrying about age” with the world at their feet.

She said: ‘You’ll be 80, 90 years old and you’ll look back and say, ‘Why did I waste my time when I was in my 30s worrying about getting older when I had so much to look forward to and so much time on my hands?’

‘I try not to focus on how much time we have left, but on how much more life experience we can have if we’re lucky enough.’

She also talked about her new documentary, Child Star.

She explained: ‘This was just a story I’d wanted to tell for quite some time.

“I’ve always thought about exploring the history of child stars, but also looking at different points of view and perspectives of what it’s like to be a child star today.”

The documentary is available to stream on Hulu and features exclusive interviews with Demi and former child actors Drew Barrymore, Kenan Thompson, Christina Ricci, Raven-Symoné, JoJo Siwa and Alyson Stoner.

According to an official Press release‘Child Star’ explores the highs and lows of growing up in the spotlight through the lens of some of the world’s most recognizable former child stars.

‘Through celebrity interviews, verité scenes and archival footage, this film deconstructs the stages of early stardom and examines the entertainment system over the past century.’

Demi will join forces with author Nicola Marsh and co-direct the film, while OBB Pictures, SB Films and DLG will take the reins of the film production.

The Disney Channel alum joined the production alongside Michael D. Ratner, Scott Ratner, Miranda Sherman and Kfir Goldberg.

Child Star executive produced by Nicola B. Marsh, SB’s Scooter Braun, Scott Manson, Jen MeDaniels and James Shin. Glenn Stickley served as co-executive producer.