Brian Wilson
Amid his longstanding struggle with mental illness, music icon Brian Wilson has thanked his supporters for all the “wonderful notes and good wishes.”
The former Beach Boys singer had to postpone a handful of upcoming concerts in the United States, because he was feeling “mentally insecure” as of late, according to a statement posted on his website.
“It’s no secret that I have been living with mental illness for many decades,” wrote the 76-year-old artist, who had revealed years ago that he has a condition called schizoaffective disorder.
“There were times when it was unbearable, but with doctors and medications, I have been able to live a wonderful, healthy and productive life with support from my family, friends and fans,” he said.
However, after a series of back surgeries last year, he felt something was off. Soon, Brian was struggling “with stuff in my head and saying things I don’t mean.”
“The surgeries were successful and I’m physically stronger than I have ever been in a long time. However, after my last surgery, I started feeling strange and it has been pretty scary for a while. I wasn’t feeling like myself,” Brian said. “We’re not sure what’s causing it, but I do know that it’s not good for me to be on the road right now.”
Brian is currently staying in Los Angeles to “rest and recover.” “The music and my fans keep me going, and I know this will be something I can also overcome,” he said. —ALLAN POLICARPIO