Concerns over Chinese actress Zhao Lusi’s health has made headlines recently, especially after clips of her walking unsteadily and looking very weak as she was being wheeled into hospital surfaced last December. On New Year’s day, the actress finally broke her silence to reveal that she’d been dealing with various health issues related to depression since 2019. This week, in an exclusive interview with Global Times, Zhao Lusi opens up about her struggles against depression and what she’s been doing to get herself back on the road to recovery.
She Had Symptoms of Depression Since a Few Years Back
Lusi admits that despite experiencing symptoms of the disease a few years back, she chose to overlook them for fear of disappointing family, friends and her fans. She relied heavily on sleeping pills and rarely took a break because she was afraid everyone would think she’s not working hard enough. Under tremendous pressure, her long-suppressed depression and anxiety finally took a toll not just on her mental health but also caused neurological damage.
Thankfully, it looks like after a period of treatment, her situation has significantly improved. Lusi says her symptoms have disappeared and that she’s basically recovered. From being unable to physically take care of herself and having a slow cognitive response initially, she’s now able to live normally. However the road to full recovery is an arduous one requiring three to four more months of further treatment. Aside from taking hormone regulating meds, the actress says she’s been proactively taking measures to get herself out of her negative headspace, taking up hobbies such as visiting cafes and dessert shops, playing the piano or painting which go a long way to relieving her stress and anxiety.
As for meeting her fans once again, Zhao Lusi just took to social media to announce that she’ll be resuming work tomorrow. The actress will be making her first public appearance in a brand event in Chengdu on Saturday (January 25th), adding that she wants to show her fans and supporters how their concern has been a constant source of strength during her darkest moments. Many fans left messages for Lusi to take care.
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Coralie
Omg Zhao Lusi cannot be ‘recovered’ simply from a few weeks of rest. But she’s prob feeling the pressure from cancellations and contract obligations. Sigh, how many years does she have left on her contract? Maybe she can take a rest then.
Dilireba took a long break and nothing happened. I don’t know why ZLS can’t just take one just as long. She has staying power.
HL
Yes..why too early to start work..
Tina
My guess is that Dilireba scheduled those breaks in, so there were no issues when she took a break. Zhao Lusi was actively filming when she had her incident, and I’m assuming has current and upcoming filming projects and obligations that can’t delay for an undetermined amount of time until she fully recovers, and that’s probably what prompted her quick return to work. I hope she eases in to it at least and doesn’t push herself so hard in the future.
What a rough industry to be in…
Anon
Agreed. That’s why I think her illness was “overhyped” to milk social media coverage. Even if there was pressure to resume work, if her physical condition does not permit, it just won’t happen no matter how much she wishes it.
And her first job after recovery is not to return to the set to finish her filming, but to a brand event, which is optional, just as an appreciation to her fans?
Applefish
Dilireba can be famous by just being a fashion icon lol. ZLS is not up there yet, especially when she has a rate of 50-50 whenever she wore designer brand n look like a million bucks! Probably that’s why she is pressured to keep filming/working as she know her status will fade if she stops for too long!
Coralie
I mean, this latest conference is for a promo event, so she does drive marketing, even if she’s not a fashion icon. She has tons of fans and on the liulang front, has a strong grip on the audience. Even if she takes a longer break and only work on commercials, I’m sure she’ll still be loved and will get offers.
The derision and lack of empathy after hospitalization and limping, really makes me sad about how harsh people are with mental health and work ethic. No job is worth sacrificing our health for.
Applefish
I agree on she can absent a bit longer and just survive on commercial. And yes, it’s sad to see the harsh treatments she got, however, I’m not sure who to blame. Like I totally sympathise with her, but her fans are not helping, constantly trying to shape a narrative. While I can understand they want to help her, ultimately I feel they are harming her. During this time, she needs to just take off, take times to get better, rather than being plunged right back into the middle of it all. Especially when the public already doesn’t have positive looks on her (for right or wrong reasons, due to past news). I understand it’s good to be not ashamed of mental illness n promote public awareness, however, that in itself is a double edged sword, n with her mind already fragile, is being representation that important?! Anyway, let’s hope she get some space to heal!
Applefish
Clarifying on why I think her fans harming her due to their shaping a narrative, it’s because the public already has a slightly negative view on her, the more narrative you try to shape, the more trust issues the public has with her, n ultimately it just doing more harm than good. Just my feelings anyway!
Xoxo
It’s way too soon! Poor girl!
Barb
yeah, I would sure do this to myself, and overhyped it for social media! are you ignorant? have you ever had clinical depression, obviously not!!! it is an all consuming illness. the fact that if your I’ll, you can’t take needed time to heal is absolutely barbaric! I wonder about this entertainment industry!!!!
Anon
You talking to me? Yes, “overhyped”. I could be quite ill with flu and I could also take the opportunity to “overhype it” to make sound like I’m near death-bed and all because somebody did not coddle me with blankets and chicken soup. Many in this industry and any other business know how to make good use of opportunities that come their way. Goodness, I never even implied that she made herself ill or that it was a fake illness. Since you think you are so smart, then you do know that there are a hundred shades between white and black?
To your question, yes, I was also suffering from depression for many years and I have a very good idea what it actually feels like. Anti-depressants were not even easily available then. Seeking professional help was not the thing to do for fear of being labelled. And I wasn’t even anywhere near the entertainment industry.
If you want to blame the industry, then you could just leave, you know. Don’t watch any dramas and movies, don’t be interested in any celebrity, don’t follow their news, don’t comment … It’s consumers who fueled this kind of behavior and the stress.
Applefish
I think the problem is these articles neglected to tell the audiences a few key points: such as ZLS has to use a cane to walk, or how she couldn’t stand up for too long in this press conference, and how she’s still quite pale n skinny. These facts/observations are not to milk sympathy, but to show she’s trying to fulfil her obligations. And yes, it said it all about the industry.
(Btw not a fan of her as an actress as I don’t think she can act, especially based on the latest work, just my 2cent on reading other news sites)
Barb
comments on here are interesting and sometimes brutal!
who are the actresses you like? I’d like to watch them. personally, I’m a fan of Luisi. I felt Pearl Girl was awesome , but didn’t like the ending . her swimming and underwater scenes were amazing! have a good day!