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Actor and director Fifth Solomon bravely turned his mental health journey into a source of purpose and hope for others as he recently opened up about his bipolar disorder diagnosis.
In a heartfelt and unfiltered Instagram post, Fifth opened up about his years-long struggle with emotional highs and lows, as well as silent battles with depression and anxiety, experiences that finally make sense now after his bipolar disorder diagnosis.
"Yesterday, my doctor officially diagnosed me with bipolar disorder," he began.
The actor-director revealed that he had long suspected he might have bipolar disorder. Having battled depression and anxiety since 2021, he admitted that "this past year hit different," describing a surge of symptoms that became harder to ignore.
He des "super moody, always overwhelmed, snapping under pressure, jumping from one thing to another, overthinking even while talking to someone, forgetting what I was about to say, shaking my legs non-stop, shopping impulsively, being too energetic then suddenly hopeless, and drowning in emotions I couldn't even explain."
Fifth also opened up about experiencing "phases of heightened urges--emotionally, physically, and sexually," along with episodes of fast-talking, sudden boosts of confidence followed by deep emotional crashes--symptoms he now understands as part of the disorder.
After what he described as a personal "rollercoaster," Fifth was officially diagnosed and has since started medication. For the first time in a long while, he shared, "I feel like me again. I feel calm. I feel present. I feel in control.
"To the people I may have hurt or confused along the way, I'm truly sorry. It was never my intention. I was struggling, and now I'm doing the work to be better. For myself. For my friends. For my team. For my family," he said, expressing remorse for the pain his loved ones may have experienced during his struggle.
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Fifth emphasized that he is sharing his mental health journey not to seek sympathy but to raise awareness. He underscored the importance of taking mental health seriously, especially since many people suffer in silence.
"Just because someone looks okay on the outside doesn't mean they aren't fighting battles we don't see. There are so many people out there just trying to survive and feel normal. That's why we need to take mental health seriously--not just when it's trending, but every day.
"I want others who are silently going through something to know: you're not alone. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Mental health is health. And just because you're struggling doesn't mean you're weak or incapable."
Ending on a hopeful note, he reminded everyone, "I'm still me. I still have big dreams. I'm still a leader. And now, I'm getting the help I deserve, because I deserve to feel better. We all do."
Recently, Fifth faced a wave of online hate. He revealed that the intense wave of cyberbullying led to a mental breakdown, resulting in 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.
Meanwhile, get to know more about Fifth in this gallery:
