Ronnie Ortiz-Magro broke his silence about his “mental health struggles” after he appeared to nod off during a cast interview.
“I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who has reached out and shown support,” the “Jersey Shore” star wrote on his Instagram Stories Tuesday.
“I really appreciate all of the fans sharing their stories of mental health struggles with me. It shows that we are not alone,” he added.
Ortiz-Magro, 40, said that though “everything may look perfect on the outside,” he is battling with “depression, bipolar and anxiety in silence.”
“While there are prescription medications that I take to help me manage symptoms, and l participate in weekly therapy, etc. unfortunately, and as others in similar situations can attest, these are ongoing measures and not a finite/permanent cure,” he penned.
The reality star said he has “tried very hard” not to let his symptoms impact how he shows up for his “Jersey Shore” family and the fans.
“Last week, what you saw during that interview was evidence ot my ongoing struggle. Some recent emotional events had begun to wear on me,” he explained.
Ortiz-Magro said the medication he takes can have side effects and that he can usually “work through” them in private.
“Wanting to be with my castmates for a press tour celebration at the same time as carrying this weight required me to work through the effects in a public setting; as a result, I was taped nodding off, which started rumors and accusations,” the MTV star wrote.
“I thought I could be strong enough to get through it, but what you saw was me trying to battle through one of my toughest moments. I pushed myself to try to show up for other people when I just needed to show up for myself,” he added.
Ortiz-Magro said this moment has taught him to put his mental health “first” and to “prioritize” his own care “no matter what.”
“It means the world to me that everyone has rallied for me and has seen past the rumors,” he penned.
“Thank you again to everyone who sent their prayers and love! It means more at a time like this more than I can explain. If you know anyone suffering from mental health related difficulties, please be kind and patient,” Ortiz-Magro concluded.
While promoting the ninth and final season of “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” last month, a video of Ortiz-Magro appearing to nod off while slouching during a SiriusXM interview with his castmates went viral.
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino took to social media, saying his heart was “heavy” seeing what his co-star “chose to present during press.”
Sorrentino, 43, told his followers he “reached out” to “check on” Ortiz-Magro, but was waiting to hear back.
“If he is willing, I will be there for him. My heart is with anyone who is struggling,” he added.
Ortiz-Magro stepped away from filming the reality series to focus on his mental health in 2021 after he was arrested for alleged domestic violence.
A judge let the “Famously Single” alum walk free, but ordered him to take parenting classes and placed him under a three-year protective order.
In 2022, he announced he was one year sober and subsequently returned to the show the following year.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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