Miss Universe Philippines contestant Maureen Wroblewitz penned a lengthy Instagram post where she detailed why she needed to take a break for her mental health.
Fresh from her trip to Pangasinan, Maureen began her post by writing, "I needed to take this break for my mental health. You only see what I post on social media but what I don't show are the challenges I go through every day."
Maureen, who recently led the Miss Universe Philippines casting challenge, continued, "I have realized that in this new journey of mine I have been my worst competitor, I have always been. I pressure myself to improve but it only hurts me."
"It is okay not to be okay, it is okay to be sad and cry, it is okay to feel unmotivated and unproductive," she wrote. "We need to acknowledge what we are feeling and know that all our feelings are valid. A lesson I have learned the hard way."
Maureen said that she hasn't been very open about her mental health in the past because she was embarrassed by it and hopes to change that. She added, "To whoever needs to hear this right now, know that you are not battling this alone. I wish I knew that when I was suffering from depression and anxiety (I still do). I wish I knew that all my feelings are valid."
Despite going through depression and anxiety, Maureen realized the importance of gratitude. She said that she was inspired by Mike Balolong's recent TikTok video, in which he talked about dwelling on your thoughts.
Maureen said, "Being grateful is so important and it can indeed boost your happiness. Being grateful for the little things and to savor everything."
Maureen added that she has learned to make peace with her past experiences and to not dwell on them. She added, "Instead, I like to thank them for making me the person that I am today. The strong, kind, and beautiful person that I am."