Director Fifth Solomon quits antidepressants: 'Ginawa akong zombie'
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Fifth Solomon thanks boyfriend for helping him get through his depression.
Fifth Solomon admits that it's hard to do his job as a director while he's suffering from depression.
“Naging hindrance siya,” the young director confessed to GMANetwork.com when asked about his mental health struggle during the press conference of his movie Sa Muli held recently.
He related, “Mayroon akong dinirek recently lang, sobrang depressed ko, sobrang hindi ko kaya, pero hindi ko pwedeng ipa-pack up yung shoot kasi ang daming nagtatrabaho. Hindi lang naman ako yung nagtatrabaho.
“Ang hirap kasi tinamaan ako ng depression during the shoot pero kailangan [kong] lumaban kasi [ako] yung nagkokontrol ng set, yung direktor. So, tinuloy ko pa rin siya. Ang importante pa rin naman, nilalabanan ko yung lungkot.”
It also didn't help that Fifth stopped taking antidepressants because it affected his emotions which, according to him, is vital for his creative work.
Fifth said, “Ayaw ko nang maggamot. Nalaman ko kasi na yung gamot kasi, ang hirap niya, ginawa niya akong zombie, wala akong emotion--hindi ako pwedeng maging masaya, hindi ako pwedeng maging malungkot.
“Nahirapan ako kasi artist ako. I write sa tulong ng emotion ko. I direct sa tulong ng emotion ko. Hopefully, lumalaban naman ako every day, babalik din ako sa dati.”
Meanwhile, Fifth's latest movie under Viva Films is about reincarnation, so GMANetwork.com asked what part of his life he would choose if he could turn back time.
He answered, “Siguro babalikan ko yung panahon na hindi pa ako malungkot. Kasi ngayon, I'm suffering from depression, tumigil na rin ako sa gamot.
“Ang hirap pala niya, hindi siya biro kasi hindi mo kontrolado yung emotion mo and hindi mo alam kung kailan siya tatama.”
Fifth also wished, “Sana nagkaroon ako ng mas malakas na support system, mas pinili ko yung mga taong mas deserving sa buhay ko. Gusto kong balikan yung panahon na gigising ako nang masaya ako. Hindi yung gigising ako na natatakot ako na, 'Ah, baka malungkot na naman ako.”
Although he still has a depressive disorder, Fifth is grateful to have found someone who helps him get through it.
During the press conference of Sa Muli, Direk Fifth introduced his boyfriend, Sacarie Alcala.
“Gusto ko siya pa rin ang mamahalin ko sa susunod na buhay,” Fifth proudly stated.
“Kasi, maalaga siya at maintindihin. Ako kasi, may pinagdadaanan ako ngayon, natutulungan niya talaga ako with my depression, my mental health. Yun ang kailangan kong tao talaga.
“Ilang beses na rin akong nasaktan, e. Noong nahanap ko na yung tamang tao. Ang saya lang na mahanap yung taong yun, hahanap-hanapin mo pa rin sa mga susunod na buhay”
MEANWHILE, HERE ARE OTHER CELEBRITIES WHO OPENED UP ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES:
