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Gab Valenciano talks about what it's like to have depression, gives message of hope to those struggling
Gab Valenciano opened up about what it's like to have depression, and reached out to those who are going through the same thing.
In an Instagram post, the singer-director said depression can be easily mistaken as severe sadness, when in reality, "it's far from it."
"It can simply be described in one phrase; a dead end," he said.
"Despondency is defined as a state of gloom, disappointment and low spirits. Now combine the two and multiply it by ten, that is depression," he added.
Gab said it would sometimes feel like waking up and "nothing makes sense."
"You look at yourself in the mirror and wonder who it is you're really looking at. You question everything," he continued.
"You can't eat. You can't sleep. And getting up from bed never felt so tough. You're paralyzed physically, emotionally and mentally. Nothing seems to work. Nothing seems to lessen the darkness. And you now find yourself in a black hole," he added.
A suicide survivor himself, Gab said that one's depression can be triggered by different things.
But sometimes, there is no trigger, he added.
"Being clinically depressed, this is the part that I hate the most," he said. "When everything seems to be fine, then you wake up the next day feeling absolutely worthless, blind and unable to see beyond the next day."
Gab said although it "can get exhausting, and sometimes giving up becomes an option," but he advised people who are going through it to not let "depression and your state of mind will never define you."
"It can affect you, it can impact you, but never define who you are in this world. It is what you do after the fact that points you to the right, or wrong direction," he said.
For Gab, he said he tends to isolate himself which he still does from time to time calling it his "regrouping or recharging time."
After that period, Gab said he makes sure that after a few days he would surround himself with the "the right people, and consciously make an effort to choose to be better next time around. "
At the latter part of his post, he wrote a message of hope to those who are going through the same thing.
"This goes out to everyone who is struggling to make sense of it all at the moment. To those who seem okay on the outside, but are dying on the inside. You are not alone in this fight, my dearest friends. The road is dark, the way is unclear, but your heart is beating which means you're meant to be here. Who you are will always be enough and I genuinely believe that this is an avenue and opportunity for us to understand each other more.
To empathize and help one another. Because sometimes all we need is someone who may not necessarily understand what it's like, but understands what it means to genuinely and unconditionally be there for you.
If you are reading this and know people who are going through something right now, listen in silence and be present. This means more to people like me than many think, it goes a long way even. And despite my current predicament, I am blessed to say I have beautiful people in my life. God bless you, whoever gets to read this. ANd to those who have helped me in my journey in life."
Last September, Gab opened up about his mental health struggles and previous suicide attempts.
The Philippine Suicide Hotline is 896-9191 or 0917-854- 9191.
—Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/JCB, GMA News
