HOW ACTING, MUSIC HELP ELIJAH COPE WITH GRIEF, ANXIETY AFTER BROTHER'S PASSING

Two years after the death of his brother JM, Elijah Canlas and his family continue to grapple with their loss.

- By CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG

Elijah Canlas and veteran actor Richard Gomez are shown filming the action-thriller flick 'Salvagelands.' They take on the role of father-and-son tandem in the film.

(Photo from the Rein Entertainment Instagram page)

Elijah shared in an interview during the presscon for “Salvageland” how his craft has aided him in dealing with grief and anxiety. Aside from movies, he is also pursuing music and theater.

“I like being busy. It keeps me not really distracted, but when I'm busy, I think less about the grief or whatever anxieties I have. When I'm on set, just doing what I love to do, yun yung nag e-equate sa happiness (for me),” he stated.

“It’s been two years since my brother passed, but it’s really hard to process grief, of course, grief is nonlinear. It comes and goes. Sometimes, you're OK. The next hour may makikita ka or maalala and then, it ruins the vibe, not really ruin, but mas bumababa lang bigla yung emotions and energy.”

The thespian, nonetheless, used such emotions “for the better.” “Use it as an inspiration to do better in my projects and pumili ng mga bagay na matutuwa ako.”

As an actor, he admitted that his diverse roles have somehow affected his mental health.