Justin Timberlake reveals Lyme disease diagnosis

Justin Timberlake revealed last Thursday, July 31st, that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease . In a post on Instagram, the singer marked the end of his Forget Tomorrow world tour and decided to speak out about his condition to "clear the truth about what he's been dealing with behind the scenes."

"As many of you know, I'm a pretty private person. But as I reflect on the tour and festivals, I wanted to share a little about what's been going on with me," the artist wrote. "Among other things, I've been battling some health issues and was diagnosed with Lyme disease—I'm not saying this to make you feel bad for me—but to shed some light on what I've been dealing with behind the scenes," Justin Timberlake admitted.

"Anyone who has experienced this disease or knows someone who has it knows that living with it can be relentlessly debilitating , both mentally and physically. When I received the diagnosis, I was definitely in shock . But at least I could understand why I was on stage with such intense nerve pain or simply feeling fatigued or nauseous," says the artist.

Justin Timberlake admits that, after receiving his diagnosis, he had to make "a personal decision": stop touring or "keep going and figure it out." "I've decided that the joy performing brings me far outweighs the temporary stress my body feels. I'm so glad I kept going," the artist wrote, adding that he was "reluctant to talk about it because I've always kept these kinds of things to myself. But I'm trying to be more transparent about my struggles so they're not misinterpreted . I share all of this with the hope that we can all find a way to connect more. I'd like to do my part to help others who are also going through this illness," the singer concluded.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by ticks . The most common symptom is skin rash: a red and white, target-shaped rash around the bite site. In some cases, people may develop other skin lesions that can even limit movement. Other symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, muscle aches , joint pain and swelling, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease can continue to progress even after the red spot on the skin has disappeared—or even if the spot never appeared. More severe forms of the disease include chronic arthritis, heart problems, and central nervous system problems, such as facial paralysis or meningitis.

Treatment can be done with antibiotics for two to four weeks, which, if administered at the first signs of symptoms, can prevent more severe forms of the disease. However, some patients continue to report symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and difficulty thinking for more than six months after finishing treatment , according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other artists have previously revealed suffering from the disease, such as Justin Bieber and Avril Lavigne .