‘General Hospital’s (GH) spoilers reveal that Maurice Benard, who plays “businessman” Sonny Corinthos on the show, has been open and honest about his mental health and his state of mind.
In his book, “Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me on and Off General Hospital,” Benard is very candid about his struggles with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression.
He also talks about his career and work at General Hospital. Benard, who has played Sonny Corinthos on GH for thirty years, shares his experiences with his mental illness.
The book quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Maurice is very proud to share his story with others.
‘General Hospital’ Spoiler: Maurice’s Experiences With his Mental Health and State of Mind
Benard was diagnosed with manic depression when he was 21 years old. He suffered a manic episode. He was committed to a mental institution. His psychiatrist prescribed lithium, which he takes religiously.
Maurice started to become vocal about his mental health issues when a fan wrote him a letter explaining that their brother had killed himself, and an interview Maurice did helped him deal with the pain of the incident.
When Maurice got the job at GH, he started working and creating. He decided to go off his medication, which proved to him a mistake. He had a breakdown.
Instead of running from the situation, Maurice and the writers at General Hospital decided to bring awareness to mental health issues and make Maurice’s character, Sonny is, bipolar as well. Benard now knows not to go off his medication.
The three-time Emmy winner now hosts a podcast, “State of Mind.” It has helped thousands of fans deal with their mental health struggles.
Benard will feature an actor or celebrity guest on his show each week who shares their experiences, and Maurice promotes every aspect of mental health you could imagine.
Benard has been open with his fans about what it is like to have a mental breakdown and how to recognize the warning signs if you are having problems.
‘General Hospital’ Spoiler: Facing Severe Depression
Benard had a challenging time when the pandemic hit, and he went through a lot of anxiety.
The isolation, education shut down, and the fear of COVID were too much for him to bear. It became so overwhelming that he decided to get professional help.
Maurice shared that he contemplated suicide then and that seeking help became a matter of life and death.
He was expected to go on a book tour but couldn’t do it because of the pandemic. Maurice ended up doing a book tour on Zoom, which was a massive blow for him.
Maurice was experiencing some of the worst depression of his life, and he felt like the walls were closing in. His mind went to an unhealthy place, and he knew he needed help.
Maurice got the help he needed, and he used his podcast to help reach out to others who may be in the same fight he is.
The General Hospital veteran actor wants others to know that no matter how bleak things may seem or how dark it gets, you can always find light at the end of the tunnel.
Maurice is also a spokesperson for Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Acting is not his only passion; he loves speaking out about mental illness and helping others.
Since Sonny Corinthos is also bipolar, Maurice is brave enough to tap into his real-life experiences with mental illness to play the role.
Maurice has a very public platform to show how to deal with depression and similar issues.
Benard wants to convey a very positive message to his audience. If you have these issues, are honest about your feelings, seek help, and there is always hope.
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