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Maxene Magalona opens up about experiencing complex PTSD symptoms
Maxene Magalona took to Instagram on Wednesday to open up about experiencing symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I’ve always wondered why it’s socially acceptable for people with physical illnesses to go to the hospital for treatment while those with mental health conditions have to hide and pretend like they don’t have it,” Maxene shared on her post.
Maxene admitted that she began dealing with mental health struggles a couple of years ago without knowing what it was.
“I found myself under a lot of stress, dealing with bouts of anxiety and having episodes of rage,” Maxene narrated in the caption.
She said she was an adult “having embarrassing tantrums but I couldn’t really understand where all the anger was coming from.”
Maxene said when she was drunk she would punch and kick doors, “cry uncontrollably and scream as though I was calling out for help.”
This made her quit drinking last year and start seeking psychiatric help.
“I’ll admit that I was hesitant to go at first because I thought that psychiatric therapy was for people who were ‘insane,’” she said.
Maxene went anyway because she said she was “determined to find out the root cause of my problems so I mustered up the courage to go and to be honest, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.”
It was then when she learned she was experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition known as complex post-traumatic stress disorder or C-PTSD.
She said it's a “psychological disorder that can develop due to prolonged and repeated interpersonal trauma.”
“This was the reason why I was feeling helpless and had difficulty controlling my emotions,” she added.
After figuring out what her problem was, with the help of her therapist, she took necessary steps to heal, such as regular therapy, daily yoga, meditation and prayer.
Maxene said she used to go to The Medical City wearing a hoodie and a baseball cap so she wouldn’t be recognized, because she didn’t want to be seen at a psychiatrist’s clinic.
She continued and encouraged everyone to start acknowledging the importance of mental health especially during this pandemic.
“But now, especially with what’s going on in the world today, I believe it’s time we #endthestigma of mental health and start talking about it so that those who need help won’t be afraid to seek it.”
For those who are having their own issues themselves, Maxene said they should remember that “#youarenotyourmind and although thoughts can be overwhelming, trust that you have the power to heal your past traumas and pain.”
“I’m actually glad I found out about my condition because it made me connect to God more than anything and I believe in my heart that He was the one who helped me through it all. #mentalhealthawarenessweek,” Maxene wrote. – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News
