... gma: jessica soho interviews soliman cruz ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, osteopath, quezon city, manila, philippines)

Soliman Cruz admits hearing voices in his head; diagnosed with probable schizophrenia (excerpts)

Lyn Luna Montealegre, Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP)

soliman and the kapuso mo, jessica soho crew

Several witnesses revealed that they often see Soliman walking along Roxas Boulevard and talking to himself. Some said that they even see the actor sleeping along the seawall. News about Mang Sol’s [Soliman] strange state and behavior spread like wildfire on various social networking sites. This prompted Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho to feature the character actor on its recent episode last Sunday, December 16. Soliman, now known as Mang Sol, is staying at a friend’s art gallery located in Singalong, Manila.

Does he have problems with his vices?

Mang Sol denied that he has a drinking problem but he admitted, “Eto yung paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, kung nagbibisyo ka ba, nagda-drugs. At eto yung kasagutan ko, I’m not in denial pero may programa ako sa sarili ko. Di ba, sa Narcotics Anonymous may twelve steps…May mga bahaging okay, may mga bahaging hindi okay kaya binabalanse ko.”

What are the challenges being faced by the actor now?

The character actor revealed, “It’s all about the voices in my head. I hear voices. I have to talk to them.”

What are these voices telling you?

The veteran actor said, “Marami. Marami silang sinasabi tungkol sa akin. Sa aming mga ideya. Pag ako naglalakad, ang pag-uusap namin tungkol sa Boatman’s club…ang Boatman’s Club ay kapitbahay ng Manila Yacht Club. Ito ay transmutasyon ng Malate Business Club. Hindi ko alam kung sino sila. Maaaring ako rin yun.”

Did he seek medical help?

“Pumunta ako sa isang psychiatrist noong may teleserye pa ako. Ngayon ay di ko pa makakayanan bumisita sa clinika niya. Ito ay hindi problema. Ito ay kailangan magpursige at maghanap ng proyekto.”

DIAGNOSIS OF SOLIMAN. Since Mang Sol mentioned that he would like to talk to a psychiatrist, Jessica arranged for him to be checked and evaluated by psychiatrist-psychologist Dr. Randy Dellosa.

After the consultation, Dr. Dellosa said: “Yung actual diagnosis ko sa kanya ay methamphetamine dependence and also probable schizophrenia."

According to medicinenet.com, symptoms of schizophrenia may include "delusions, hallucinations, catatonia, negative symptoms, and disorganized speech or behavior."

Dr. Dellosa explained, “Ang paggamit ng drugs ay nakaka-imbalance ng chemicals sa utak.

"Pag na imbalance ang chemicals sa utak, nagkakaroon ng hallucinations at yun ang nangyari kay Sol. Mayroon siyang mga naririnig na auditory hallucinations na voices. Kinakausap niya itong mga bulong.”

The doctor clarified that this condition is treatable.

“There’s medication for that. It’s very easy to treat psychosis…Kailangan niya ng individual psychotherapy o counseling. Kasi mayroon siyang mga angst sa buhay. Kagaya ng problems niya with si misis ... Kung masyadong matindi ang emotions niya, masyado siyang nalulungkot o nagagalit, pwede siyang mag-resort sa drugs. He also needs to have marital or family counseling. Besides that, kailangan niya ng support group para ma-encourage at ma-inspire siya.”

soliman cruz with nathan lopez in the award-winning movie 

'ang pagdadalaga ni maximo oliveros'

STILL AN ARTIST AT HEART. 

What are his plans for Christmas?

He said, “... Maghahanap siguro ako uli ng isang lugar na maaaring akong magdasal. “Yung teatro ang aking parang… Kailangan kong magdasal. Hindi ako makapagdasal kung hindi ako lilikha. Ang paglikha ay pagdarasal.”

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho already gave some medication to Soliman Cruz. Family members and friends of the character actor can contact these numbers to extend their help: Tel. No. 982-7777 local 1426 / 1427

... Major Depression Treatment Therapy Mood Clinic in the Philippines (life coach, counseling, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, quezon city, manila)

Kimberly Go and Nino Manalo of Solar News Talk TV passed by my clinic for an interview on depression.

Major depression, also known as clinical depression, is a mood problem caused by a serotonin imbalance in the brain.  Since serotonin imbalance is the culprit for major depression, it follows that the condition should be treated with serotonin balancers.  These serotonin balancers are what we call anti-depressants.  

Taking anti-depressants is the fastest way to get rid of the depression.  While all anti-depressants are clinically researched to be effective, it is important to find the anti-depressant which matches your body system.  In order to know which anti-depressant best suits you, I have two criteria that must be met:  First of all, there should be no side effects.  And secondly, you should feel significant improvement within 2-3 weeks.  Unfortunately, the only way to know whether you've found the right anti-depressant for you is through trial and error.  

In the internet forums, a lot of people bash anti-depressants for their side-effects.  My question for these bashers is, why in the first place would you continue taking an anti-depressant that makes you feel worse?  If the anti-depressant has side-effects or makes you feel more depressed, or if you've been taking it for more than month and you're still depressed, then it only makes sense to stop taking that anti-depressant and try another one.  

Oh and by the way, it is unfair to bash or heap accolades on a particular anti-depressant because the choice of anti-depressant for each person is very individualized.  The anti-depressant that best suits you may be the worst anti-depressant for another person, and vice versa.  Like they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.  

Best thing to do is find a shrink who you can collaborate with in finding the right medication, because once you've found the right medication and taken the right dosage, then you should be back to your old happy self within 2-3 weeks.  Yes, recovery from major depression is generally that quick!

Hhmm, this is a pretty depressed kitty cat, don't you think? It looks like it needs a lot of tender loving care!

... alcoholism, alcohol abuse and dependence, and alcohol rehab detox / detoxification rehabilitation treatment center in the philippines ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, quezon city, manila, philippines)

pat mallari and alyssa de dios of st. scholastica's college, manila asked me some questions on alcoholism.  i referred them to DSM-V proposed criteria for Alcohol Abuse Disorder. 

DSM-V states that an alcoholic is generally someone who has a strong urge to use alcohol, who takes in large and progressively increasing amounts of alcohol, whose life revolves around the use of alcohol such that it significantly affects different aspects of his daily life, who persists in its usage despite the negative consequences, and who experiences withdrawal symptoms upon stopping its usage.

some alcoholics drive under the influence of alcohol which is a major cause of lethal vehicular accidents.  other alcoholics experience "black-outs" wherein they have no memory of what was done during the time they were intoxicated.  alcohol is a toxin to the liver so many chronic alcoholics develop hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other liver ailments.

chronic alcoholics need to undergo a gentle detoxification process because if they quit cold turkey, they may experience life-threatening seizures.  some alcoholics have a strong support system and are strongly determined to quit alcohol thus, an outpatient detox and rehab program is appropriate for them.  but for majority of chronic alcoholics who lack the willpower to quit, they will need to go through an intensive in-patient detox and rehab program which must have a strong individual and family counseling component.

... Life Coaching the Fab Five Finalists of the Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition! ... (life coach, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, philippines)

In my clinical practice, I often encounter both men and women with eating disorders. The treatment of eating disorders include medical care, nutritional counseling, psychotherapy, and a supervised physical fitness program. Common eating disorders include the following:

Anorexia nervosa: characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight despite being emaciated. Anorexics frequently weigh themselves and eat very small quantities of food.

Bulimia nervosa: a pattern of binge-eating, followed by extreme and desperate behaviors aimed at losing weight. These behaviors include forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, and/or excessive exercise.

Binge-eating disorder: a loss of control over eating which leads to obesity. People who binge-eat experience shame or guilt about their binge-eating, which makes them binge-eat even more.

The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition showcased obese people who, through sheer determination, overcame their binge-eating disorder to pursue a disciplined lifestyle of health and well-being.

Presented below are the “before and after” photos of the “Fab Five Finalists” of the Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition. Enjoy their pictures! Be awed by their transformation! They truly are an inspiration to behold!

Raffy Tan:

The First Ever Pinoy Biggest Loser:  Larry Martin!

Hazel Chua:

Art Mendoza:

Angela Lupangco:

and as for you folks, i'd like to share with you the same tips i gave to the fab five finalists above. when the temptation to cheat on your diet comes your way, curb your cravings simply by doing the following:

@ drink water,

@ brush your teeth with menthol toothpaste, floss, and gargle,

@ distract yourself with thoughts or activities which are non-food related, and or


@ talk with someone else.

... bipolar disorder treatment in the philippines ... (psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, counselor, life coach)

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we all have our mood swings. sometimes, we feel unmotivated, gloomy or grouchy. at other times, we're all bubbly and energetic. there is a natural ebb and flow to our moods and this is a normal part of our lives.
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for some people however, the mood swings are too extreme. rather than an ebb and flow of moods, the mood swings become more like a rollercoaster ride with alpine peaks and abysmal valleys. for a period of time, they slump into a deep depression. and then after a while, they become as hyperactive as an energizer bunny on shabu. this type of mood swing isn't normal. this is a bipolar disorder.
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a bipolar disorder is caused by an imbalance of many brain chemicals- serotonin, adrenaline, dopamine, GABA, and many others. this brain chemical imbalance is usually triggered by physical, emotional, or mental stress. sometimes, it happens spontaneously even in the absence of stress.
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the depressive phase of a bipolar disorder is manifested with the following symptoms: sadness, absence of motivation, sleep pattern changes, appetite changes, energy level changes, lowered self-confidence, negative/pessismistic thinking, concentration problems, and thoughts of death or suicide.
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the manic phase of a bipolar disorder is manifested with the following symptoms: extreme bubbliness or grouchiness, decreased need for sleep, hyperactivity, extreme talkativity, thoughts jumping from one topic to another, and impulsive behaviors.
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bipolar disorder is easily treated with mood stabilizers. it is just a matter of finding the right mood stabilizers and the right dosages. once found, the person with bipolar disorder usually gets well within 2-3 weeks. a wholistic treatment package will consist of mood stabilizing medications, counseling/psychotherapy, relaxation and stress management strategies, and holistic wellness therapies.
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there are many people around us with bipolar disorder but we don't recognize them. that's because when they seriously comply with their treatment regimen, they exhibit no symptoms whatsoever. the goal of treatment is to help people with bipolar disorder live normal, functional, productive, happy, and meaningful lives-- and from my clinical experience, that goal is VERY possible!
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interview by abs-cbn's tv show "ted failon ngayon."

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... depression treatment and suicide prevention in the philippines ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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with the tragic news of former defense secretary angelo reyes' self-inflicted death, gma network interviewed me on the topic of "suicide" for their breaking news.
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i won't get into details about what i mentioned in the interview, but i'd like to offer you some tips on what to do in case you encounter a friend or loved one who is suicidal:
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• take your suicidal friend or loved one seriously. many suicidal people are ambivalent about dying so they express their suicidal thoughts as a cry for help. be calm; listen to what s/he has to say; don't be judgmental or belittle his/her feelings.
• find out more about the person's suicidality. ask her/him how s/he plans to do it. ask whether s/he's attempted suicide before. inquire about the current situations that triggered the suicidal thoughts. ask whether s/he hears voices (auditory hallucinations) which tell him/her to do it.
• empathize with the person's distress. offer them reasons to go on living. offer them suggestions on how to cope. encourage them to seek professional help immediately.
• don't leave your friend alone. if you have to leave, make sure someone's with him/her.
• never keep it a secret. inform his/her parents as soon as possible. your suicidal friend may think that you betrayed him/her, but by informing the parents, you would have saved his/her life.
• get counseling for yourself. you surely will need emotional detox after interacting with a suicidal person.

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... major depression in the philippines: therapy and treatment ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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what causes depression during the holidays? gma's medical advisory program "pinoy md" wanted my take on the matter.

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from the depressed people who consult me at my clinic, here's my list of causes:

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(1) physical distance from loved ones (e.g., ofws)
(2) break-ups with partners
(3) ongoing conflict with partner
(4) family misunderstandings
(5) death of loved one
(6) illness of loved one or of self
(7) memories of bad experiences/ trauma which happened in past christmas holidays

(8) looking back at the year that passed and deeming it unfruitful or unproductive
(9) financial hardship
(10) major depression

(11) seasonal affective disorder

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causes # 1-7 are "relational" in nature and are primarily managed through individual psychotherapy and relationship/ family counseling.

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causes # 8-9 are "pragmatic" in nature and are primarily managed through advice and coaching.

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cause # 10-11 are "biochemical" in nature and are primarily managed by anti-depressant treatment.

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... body dysmorphic disorder in the philippines ... (life coach, counselor, psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist)

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chuchie ledesma from Zen Health Magazine visited me for an interview on body dysmorphic disorder (bdd). this is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a preoccupation on imagined bodily defects.

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because people with bdd become very distressed about their looks, it is common for them to undergo multiple unnecessary surgeries. some of these people, you’ll find on the website www.awfulplasticsurgery.com. michael jackson, suspected bdd patient due to his numerous facial surgeries, were among those frequently featured in the website. here is a pic of jocelyn wildenstein who has had her eyes and nose done, her lips plumped up, her chin fixed, and her face lifted a good number of times.

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so what causes bdd? probably a combination of genetic predisposition, peer pressure, low self-esteem, and media influence. if you want to know more about body dysmorphic disorder, you’ll need to get next month’s copy of Zen Health Mag.

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