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Fifth Solomon breaks silence on online hate: 'They wanted me dead'
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A week after bravely opening up to the world about his bipolar diagnosis, Fifth Solomon shared the painful realizations he has reflected on throughout his mental health journey.
On Instagram, the actor and director shared a photo of himself in the emergency room after experiencing a "mental breakdown and a full-blown panic attack," which he revealed was triggered by the overwhelming wave of online hate he had been facing.
"This photo was taken by my sister -- after I finally calmed down. It's a version of me that's far from what most people are used to seeing. No suit, no makeup, no signature winged eyeliner. Just me, stripped down and barely holding on," he shared.
Fifth revealed that he underwent a series of physical tests, and a few days later, consulted his psychiatrist. During the consultation, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, on top of his ongoing struggles with depression, BPD, and anxiety.
Related gallery: Filipino celebrities with bipolar disorder
Following his bipolar diagnosis, Fifth admitted, "It truly felt like the world was against me."
He recalled, "I was bullied, dragged, attacked personally. People who didn't even know me said the meanest things, as if they did. And honestly, some didn't just want me to fail -- they wanted me DEAD."
However, after bravely facing his mental health struggles, he shared that he was given “one painful but powerful gift”--realization.
Adding to his realizations, Fifth shared, “When you're no longer valuable to what they need, they'll throw you away like you're nothing.” He went on to say that this is the moment you will “find out who truly values you, who genuinely loves you, and who was never real in the first place.”
“So now, I choose to be loyal to myself. I trust no one blindly,” he said, revealing the most important lesson he had learned. “And I keep going--because I deserve to live, to heal, and to rise again.”
Previously, Fifth faced a wave of online hate. He revealed that the intense wave of cyberbullying led to a mental breakdown and hospitalization.
He first rose to fame in 2014 as a housemate on Pinoy Big Brother: All In, joining the reality show alongside his twin brother, Fourth.
In 2018, he made his directorial debut with Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka, a romantic drama film starring Alex Gonzaga.
Get to know more about Fifth Solomon in this gallery:
