AFTER more than a year of living in Bali, Indonesia during the lockdown, Maxene Magalona has finally settled back into the country along with her husband Robbie Mananquil. The couple had initially flew abroad to attend a one-month yoga training course. They ended up extending their stay after the announcement of a lockdown in the Philippines last year.
The 34-year-old actress admits what she was going through emotionally when she came back. She wrote: “On this day, however, I started getting a migraine and my body began to physically collapse. When this happens, I usually get frustrated because I don’t like the feeling of ‘losing control.’ I started getting emotional and instead of holding back my tears, I just allowed them to come. Gradually, the emotions that I had been keeping bottled up inside of me for God knows how long started to surface.
“When I was younger, I used to spend my time running away and denying what I was feeling. I turned to partying and alcohol to numb myself from feelings of anxiety, fear and pain. Now, being in lockdown leaves me no choice but to face and sit with the discomfort. Although this can be quite terrifying and painful, I actually welcome it so that I can hold space for my emotions and allow them to flow through me. I’ve built a wall around my heart for so long, trying to be tough and protect myself from becoming vulnerable only to find out that it takes true strength and courage to feel all my feelings.”
Although initially intended as a message for her friend, Maxene said she chose to go public with her feelings and show her followers her true emotions during mental health awareness week. (Push)
