JM de Guzman opened up on how his mental health has been during the COVID-19 pandemic. The actor disclosed that the onset of the pandemic was very hard on him since he had limited ways of coping.
The 32-year-old actor revealed that when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) began, he just got out of rehab and had just started to live alone.
“It was really hard for kasi because of my panic disorder and limited yung ways ko to cope because of COVID-19 pero ngayon di ko siya nakitang pangit because parang nadagdagan lang yung coping skills ko,” he shared in a Mental Health webinar by Pilipino Star Ngayon.
Despite the rough start during the pandemic, JM was happy to say that he feels stronger and “on top” of his disorder and the challenges he faces.
When asked how he decided to reach out for help, he shared that his turning point was reaching rock bottom, where he could not even muster the strength to get out of bed.
“I cannot even pray because of my thoughts so that time sabi ko wala nag papatawid na ako so yun nag reach out ako. Tinulungan naman ako ng family ko,” he said.
He opened up that his family was part of his problems so they all had to undergo therapy as well to learn how to express empathy for each other.
For anyone else who’s going through the same struggles, JM reminded those who are experiencing the same that there is a higher power that will never give them a battle they can’t conquer.
“There’s a higher power and kahit anong mangyari, ‘wag tayong bibitaw dun dahil sa huli makikita natin yung rason kung bakit,” he advised.
In August, JM captured the moment of his panic attack on video in hopes of making others who can relate to him not feel alone.
