Actress and social media influencer Maxene Magalona recalled the time when she didn’t know about her depression back in 2019. On her Instagram account, she shared how she felt “disconnected and dissociated” during those times but learned how to heal from it through therapy.
Maxene has been open about her mental health journey and is an advocate for people in need of therapy. On her social media accounts, she’s been vocal about the activities she does in order to help her mental health.
READ: Maxene Magalona on healing: ‘I love the person I am becoming’
The Kapamilya actress showed snaps of her Thailand trip from 2019 where she took her first yoga teacher training. In the photos, Maxene shared how she lost so much weight because of depression which she didn’t know she had at that time.
“Looking back, I was so disconnected and dissociated because I wasn’t being true to myself. I kept trying to be the person that everyone around me needed me to be, which left me feeling so exhausted. I don’t blame anyone though—I admit that I chose to do this to myself, unconsciously,” she wrote.
Maxene added how happiness isn’t the opposite of depression but rather, expression. She claimed how depression makes people not be able to express what they’re truly feeling deep inside due to individual circumstances.
“We unconsciously suppress our emotions because we grew up thinking that they shouldn’t be felt or expressed. We were often told to 'stop crying,' or else we would get punished which eventually made us scared to share what we were feeling. So, while living with so much fear and anxiety, we chose to numb the pain by overeating, shopping, partying, and drinking alcohol,” she explained.
READ: Maxene Magalona reveals why Alessandra de Rossi is a genuine friend
She maintained that depression is something that “is very real but rarely talked about” because it wasn’t discussed back in the day. As May signifies Mental Health Awareness month for the USA, Maxene is holding a meditation challenge and has a class on May 10 about depression and ways to manage it.
“Depression is very real but rarely talked about… If you or anyone you know would like to know more about this mental disorder, you can join our series #MeditatewithMaxeneinMay which is our meditation challenge in honor of #MentalHealthAwareness month,” she expressed.
Previously, the Kapamilya star opened up about how much she’s enjoying who she is now. While it wasn’t a walk in the park for her, she has been vocal about her self-healing journey.
“I am learning and growing, pursuing my passions, creating my art, being kind to myself so that I can be kind to others, catching myself before I get triggered and taking accountability for my actions. It’s not easy to heal and become my higher self but this kind of self-work is sacred and I would rather work on myself and grow rather than just stay stuck in my old ways,” she previously shared.