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Aside from battling the Coronavirus Disease, some COVID-19 survivors also fight depression, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. Read the inspiring story of how Pinoy nurse Billy Bruno was able to overcome all these HERE:

“Masyadong masakit na 'yung katawan ko (at) ayaw kong (maGING) pabigat sa pamilya ko. Tapos nandoon ako sa third floor, sabi ko, nakabukas 'yung bintana, tatalon ako sa bintana para tapos na ang lahat kasi hindi ko kaya, e,” Billy Bruno, a Pinoy nurse in the United Kingdom (UK) recalls battling depression and suicidal thoughts, as he shared with online Documentary show 'Survivors' his COVID-19 story.

A tearful Billy recounts battling suicidal thoughts during ordeal with COVID-19 / Source: @tunaynabuhay (FB)

Billy started working as a nurse in the UK back in March 2001. He currently lives with his wife Elizabeth, who's also a nurse, and their three children who were born and raised there. His senior citizen aunt and uncle also live with them.

Back in March of this year, Billy came in contact with a COVID-19 patient, as he was one of the nurses tasked to give medical treatment to the said patient.

He began feeling exhausted on March 24 and thought maybe he was simply tired from work and was overexposed to certain chemicals.

As his symptoms worsened, Billy was advised by his manager to undergo self-quarantine.

Billy said he was in excruciating pain during his ordeal with COVID-19, that he couldn't even remove his socks or T-shirt by himself. Worse, he wasn't able to eat.

“Hindi na ako nakakain. The whole process ng illness ko, I think I lost 15 kilos.”

He admitted to 'Survivors' that he did contemplate suicide by jumping from the third floor window of their home in UK.

Billy said he was afraid he would infect his family and he also didn't want to be a burden to them.

Fortunately, he found the strength to beat suicidal thoughts.

“But, I stayed stronger, sabi ko, 'There's a way. I believe in God. I believe in Jesus, my Savior.'”

Billy then focused his energy on healing by getting enough rest and sleep.

On April 14, his family rushed him to the hospital, and the next day his COVID-19 test came back positive.

His wife, uncle, and aunt also eventually tested positive for COVID-19. And two of his three children also developed COVID-19 symptoms.

“Sabi ko, 'Bakit ganito? Sino ang mag-lo-look after sa kanila? Nandito kaming lahat sa hospital.' Kaya 'yon yung masakit sa loob ko. Ano'ng mangyayari sa kanila?”

“E, kung mamamatay ako, mamamatay misis ko? Kung mamamatay kaming apat, sino mapag-iiwanan ng mga anak ko?”

All the worrying took a toll on Billy's health, that it has led him to experience hallucinations.

“Pumikit ako sandali. Sabi ko, “Nag-iisa ako rito, nasa ospital ako. Tapos nag-iisa ako rito sa kuwarto. Bakit may mga tao?'”

Billy recalls his hallucinations while fighting COVID-19 / Source: @tunaynabuhay (FB)

According to Dr. Randy Dellosa, a psychiatrist from Life Change Recovery Center, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is also experiencing mental health issues, as people fighting the disease are susceptible to depression and even hallucinations due to isolation.

“Kung ang tao po ay nakaranas ng major depression o nagsimula na siyang nakaranas ng mga guni-guni, like for example, mayroon na siyang mga nakikita, o naririnig na wala naman doon, ang ibig sabihin po nito ay affected na po 'yung brain chemicals.”

Dr. Dellosa said strong emotions can affect the chemicals in our brains, and once an imbalance occurs in these chemicals that's when a person starts experiencing hallucinations.

Watch Billy Bruno recount his hallucinations and suicidal thoughts in detail and find out how he was able to overcome them in the full episode of 'Survivors' in Tunay na Buhay's official Facebook page.

For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

For updates on the Coronavirus Disease pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine, visit GMA's COVID-19 page and ECQ page.

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