Alden Richards hits rock bottom—and kept going

May 26 ------ Despite a steady stream of high-profile projects and a familiar, polished presence on television, Alden Richards was actually dealing with something that wasn’t visible to the public eye in recent months. Apparently, as he continued hosting, acting, and appearing in front of cameras, he was also going through what he now describes as one of the most difficult period of his life. “I think last year, that was my lowest year,” Richards revealed in a recent interview with GMA Integrated News.

According to the actor, his struggles weren’t caused by any single event, but by a pattern of giving too much of himself to others and not enough to his own wellbeing. “Just to validate everything that’s happening in my life right now — that was the reason,” he explained. Richards talked candidly about the psychological weight of that time, describing a mental fog where even the support of loved ones wasn’t enough to bring him clarity. “Yung times kasi na you’re clouded with a lot of negative thoughts, andyan yung mga taong nagmamahal sa ’yo pero hindi mo ma-proseso nang tama ’yung pag-iisip mo. It’s very hard to be present… yung nandito ka pero wala ka dito.”

The situation worsened in January with the death of his grandfather—a personal loss that deepened his sense of isolation and pushed him further into what he now identifies as a depressive episode. “It took me six months to get over that,” he said. “Hindi man siya clinically diagnosed, pero that was depression, at its finest. That was depression. Ang galing nga, hindi lang halata.”

The admission is one of the few times Richards has publicly addressed his mental health. For a long time it was something he wasn’t willing to talk about. “Before kasi, hindi ko siya kayang pag-usapan. Hirap ako, ayokong magpakita ng weakness.” Richards didn’t announce his difficulties. He didn’t frame them as part of a public comeback. He simply began to make changes. By March, he had taken up running. A month later, cycling followed. He shared some of this on social media, but the motivation was more personal than promotional.

Physical activity, he said, became a way to process what he had been through and take back a sense of control. Richards’ shift wasn’t about reinvention. It was rooted in a basic form of self-care. He also spoke about pulling back from the need for external approval—a common pressure in his industry. “The industry will take as much as you give it,” Richards implied, and for years, he gave it everything. Now, he seems more focused on balance.

Questions about his love life still come up frequently, but Richards no longer feels the need to answer them in a way that satisfies expectations. “I don’t understand. Hindi ko gets kung bakit ganoon ang mindset natin na ang basis ng kasiyahan ng isang tao,” he said, obviously pushing back on the idea that fulfillment should be measured by one’s relationship status. “It’s my story. It’s how I want my story to be told… not based on the presumption of some people. I’m so done with that. I’ve been there long enough. I’ve done so much for the industry, and I’d like to do more for the industry right now.” Is this a personal rebranding? A course correction? It seems that Richards is out to redefine himself — choosing what to share, what to prioritize, and what to leave behind.

Source: mb.com.ph