Zhenya Halych speaks frankly about the struggle with anxiety during the war

The leader of the Ukrainian band O.Torvald and military serviceman Zhenya Halych spoke frankly about how he tried to fight anxiety and depression with the help of alcohol. The musician made this confession in an interview on the YouTube channel.

Loss of carelessness and responsibility for the country

Zhenya Halych admitted that the war changed his life forever. From the first months of the full-scale Russian invasion, he joined the defense of his native country, which required him to grow up quickly.

"In 2022, a carefree boy turned into a man in two days, I took responsibility and decided that it was my duty to protect the country, " Halych shared.

Fighting depression due to alcohol

Being alone with his thoughts, Zhenya began to experience depressive symptoms. He believed that alcohol could be a temporary relief from anxiety.

"It seemed to me that when anxiety appears, you need to drink and then let it go immediately, " the musician admitted.

Personal struggle during rotations

Returning home during rotations, Zhenya found himself alone in an empty house. His family now lives in Poland, which only increased the feeling of isolation. It was at these moments that he began to abuse alcohol.

"The worst thing about domestic alcoholism is that you don't wash down ordinary vodka with a sweet drink. You come to an empty house, turn on a movie to enjoy watching it, make yourself seven shots of gin and tonic and pass out, " Halych said.

Important steps to recovery

Fortunately, Zhenya realized that alcohol is not the solution to his problems. He sought professional help and took anti-depressants, an important step in his fight against depression and anxiety. Zhenya Halych urged Ukrainians to seek help if they face similar difficulties.

Editor: Yana Davydiuk