Iwa Moto has come out with her mental health disorders, not to seek sympathy, but to make a point: She has nothing to be ashamed of.
On Instagram, the 31-year-old StarStruck Season III alumna reveals that she has been clinically diagnosed as having bipolar disorder, apart from suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and restless leg disorder (RLS).
In the same post dated February 6, 2020, Iwa says: “I am learning to live with it, but at the same time doing my best not to be defined by my illness.”
She calls herself “A WARRIOR.”
Iwa elaborateson her struggles, and how she has been trying to live a normal life despite her condition, which includes bouts of "severe panic attacks."
Published as is, part of her post reads: "...and everyday I struggle to live my life as normal as possible.
“It’s hard for me to wake up and sleep.. to control my emotions. To be as jolly as I used to be. And to be ME.
“But everyday I fight my condition. I take my meds., and i put on a smile. I am surviving everyday..
“having mental health issues is hard. Esp with the stigma. But its ok.. I have accepted it and I AM OK with it.
“I am learning to live with it, but at the same time doing my best not to be defined by my illness.
“I am striving to become a better version of me everyday."
The Kapuso actress is the partner of Pampi Lacson, son of Senator Panfilo Lacson.
She and Pampi have a six-year-old daughter, Mimi.
This is s not the first time Iwa has mentioned her battle with mental issues.
In November 2019, Iwa traded tirades with netizens after she defended Claudine Barretto at the height of the latter's feud with sister Marjorie Barretto.
Iwa seconded Claudine's post because, she said in her comment, Marjorie was “mocking someone with mental illness."
The celebrity mom also wrote then: “No one in their right mind would joke about a disability.
“I too am suffering with it,” she said, which was in reference to her own bipolar disorder and PTSD.
Heathline.com defined bipolar disorder as "a mental illness marked by extreme changes in mood from high to low, and from low to high. Highs are periods of mania, while lows are periods of depression. The changes in mood may even become mixed, so you might feel elated and depressed at the same time."
According to www.mayoclinic.com, PTSD “is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event—either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.”
It says RLS "is a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It typically happens in the evening or nighttime hours when you're sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily.”
The webside adds that RLS, “also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, can begin at any age and generally worsens as you age. It can disrupt sleep, which interferes with daily activities.”
Mental health is a serious matter.
There are organizations that are willing to lend a helping hand to people with this condition.
One organization is the National Center for Mental Health, which is launched by the Department of Health.
Here is their 24/7 hotline: 0917 899 8727 (USAP); at 989 8727 (USAP)