Entertainer Lee Kyung-kyu sparked a lot of empathy by honestly sharing his thoughts on mid-life depression and panic disorder.
In a video released on May 21 on the channel ‘God Kyung-kyu’ titled “The Worst Disease That Even Lee Kyung-kyu Collapses To, Mid-life Depression,” a conversation about mental health took place. Lee Kyung-kyu invited psychological counselor Professor Park Sang-mi to have a sincere talk about the depression and anxiety experienced by both young adults and the middle-aged.
Counselor Park Sang-mi expressed concern over the “mental health” of men who do not reveal their emotions, stating, “(Korean) men don’t express themselves well,” and adding, “There is a proverb that men should cry three times in their lives. But if they actually do that, they might suffer from mental illness.”
Lee Kyung-kyu brought laughter by saying, “It’s embarrassing to cry. I cry once every four years. I only cry when watching the World Cup. Other than that, I don’t cry.” In response, Park Sang-mi shared, “In Japan, ‘crying therapy’ rather than laughter therapy is conducted in cancer wards for adult men. They are encouraged to watch moving music and sad movies, and it is said to be effective.”
Park Sang-mi continued, “It would be wonderful if Lee Kyung-kyu could say, ‘I also sometimes cry because I’m lonely and struggling, but I feel relieved after crying.'”
During the conversation, Lee Kyung-kyu asked, “Which do you think is more serious, youth depression or mid-life depression?” Park Sang-mi explained that it’s not a problem for a specific generation and that the risk and level of pain are similar in both cases. She mentioned economic problems, deteriorating health, and family conflicts as representative causes of depression.
Having revealed that he has suffered from panic disorder for a long time, Lee Kyung-kyu also shared his thoughts on the difference between depression and panic disorder. He said, “People around me often ask about the difference between the two. I explain that depression is a disease where you feel like you want to die, while panic disorder is a disease where you feel the terror that you might die right now.” He added, “I feel that panic disorder causes more extreme anxiety because there is a strong attachment to life.”
Lee Kyung-kyu also emphasized the importance of seeking professional help if experiencing severe depressive symptoms. He noted the need to let go of prejudices regarding counseling and medication and to actively seek treatment. Counselor Park Sang-mi agreed, explaining, “Just as you take fever reducers when you have a high fever, mental health issues also require appropriate treatment.”
