Angel Leighton opens up about her struggle with anxiety
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“Maging masaya.”
This was Angel Leighton's consistent answer when repeatedly asked about her birthday wish. The Sparkle artist turned 21 on August 6 but only got to celebrate it with her family and friends in grand party held on August 11 at the Avire Tower in Quezon City.
In the said occasion, Angel was once again asked about her birthday wish after blowing the candle on her birthday cake.
She answered, “Lagi n'yong naririnig 'to pero sana maging masaya. Mahirap maging masaya, para sa akin, kasi, siyempre, sa work, family issues, personal issues. Ang number one wish ko lang is maging happy talaga ako ng sobra.””
GMANetwork.com and other select entertainment media had a chance to chat with Angel while she was preparing for one of her birthday productions. In this interview, the young actress opened up about her true feelings.
“Hindi ko alam kung puwede ko ba 'tong sabihin pero, okay, sasabihin ko na. Nagkakaroon kasi ako ng anxiety,” she said.
When asked what could be the cause of her anxiety, Angel replied, “Siguro dahil sa mga pinagdadaanan ko sa buhay, parang nagiging emotional ako ngayon.” “
She also mentioned, “Siyempre, hindi naman mawawala yung family problem talaga, natural lang yung sa buhay. Siguro dahil din sa sarili ko, sa career ko, kasi mahirap talagang maging artista. Sinasabi ko 'to kasi yun ang totoo, ayaw kong magsinungaling. Pero matapang naman ako, nandito pa rin ako sa inyong harapan.”
Angel then said that she just got real about her feeling because she knows that like her, there are other people who also feels anxious about life.
“Hindi 'yon dapat ipaalam ng mga tao. Pero siyempre, alam kong may mga tao na nagkaka-anxiety na katulad ko.
“Kaya ko 'to sinasabi para at least alam ng mga tao na kami din, kaming mga artista, parehas lang kaming tao. Parehas lang kaming nagkaka-anxiety, nagkakaproblema, may pinagdadaanan sa buhay.
“Kaya kung sinoman ang may pinagdadaanan sa buhay ngayon, sana maging strong kayo at laban lang sa buhay,”she said with a sense of encouragement.
As much as possible, Angel doesn't want to think about her anxiety. But whenever the feeling kicks in, Angel confessed, “Iniiyak ko lang siya.”
She continued about managing her anxiety, “Iniiyak ko siya kasi parang nawawala yung pain, e, alam mo 'yon? Parang kapag binuhos nating lahat, parang ang sarap huminga. Iniiyak ko lang then, kakausapin ko yung mga kapatid ko, mga friends ko, mag-a-advise sila sa akin. Nagbabasa rin ako ng mga Bible verse, nanonood ako ng kahit ano sa YouTube para lang maging kalma ako.”
Despite her current mental health struggles, Angel remains thankful for all the opportunities in her showbiz career.
Sa kabila ng kanyang nararamdaman, patuloy namang nagpapasalamat si Angel sa sunud-sunod na oportunidad na dumarating sa kanyang showbiz career.
Aside from the weekly show Walang Matigas na Pulas sa Matinik na Misis, Angel also became a part of the hit GMA Afternoon Prime teledrama titled Abot-Kamay na Pangarap.
“Sobrang thankful ko talaga sa GMA, sa Sparkle, as in 100 percent po talaga. Kasi, pinagkatiwalaan po nila talaga ako, binigyan po nila ako ng chance maipakita yung talents ko, yung pag-arte ko, pagsasayaw ko. Sobrang blessed ko lang po talaga sa buhay ko ngayon,” she ended.
MEANWHILE, HERE ARE OTHER CELEBRITIES WHO OPENED UP ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES:
