1/ Grieving during a pandemic:
I'm reading more and more about people who've lost someone close. I know how you feel. It's freaking hard, especially when you can't spend those moments grieving together. I lost my aunt yesterday... and I'm learning how to grieve like a man

2/ Not just that, 3 weeks ago, my uncle passed away, too. What's worse, I can't even spend those difficult times with my dad who lost a brother and a sister in the same month. It's tough, and I wanted to share 3 mistakes that I always do when it comes to negative emotions

3/ I've been trying to resist tweeting about this as I hate pitty. I wanted to deal with it on my own like I always do. Always looking/acting strong in front of others. I'm usually the source of comfort to others, but this time it was too much even for me.

4/ When my dad told me over the phone about my aunt, I was shocked, and I felt overwhelmed. Tears rolled down my face as I remembered the times I used to sit by her bed and laugh with her. I tried hard to hide the fact that I'm in tears. I didn't want my family to worry about me

5/ Clearly, they could tell I'm in tears, so they changed the topic and asked me about work etc. Which made me feel even worse. I asked them if I could call them back. When I feel like this, my usual response is "Go do some work!" Which is the most STUPID thing you can do!

6/ I try to avoid negative emotions. I would justify my behaviour by saying I need to make every minute count because that's the only way I can show my appreciation for the gift of life. Which is ok, but some things need to happen first.

7/ My mum called me, but I didn't pick up. I didn't feel like talking. As I was working today, I kept getting these waves of anxiety and shortness of breath. I couldn't focus on anything. I tried to play the guitar to distract my mind from it. It worked only momentarily.

8/ I tried sleeping, it didn't work. I felt even worse afterwards. So finally I shut my laptop, I left my phone at home, and I went for a walk at night. I could feel the emotions coming to the surface and again... tears. I couldn't distract myself now, my phone wasn't with me.

9/ I experienced it fully while I was on the street. Which is where you don't want to be when you feel like this! I didn't care as much. It felt good to let it out. When I came back, I called my parents and had a long and beautiful conversation with them. We shared those feelings

10/ I might not feel 100% now, but it's those moments when we're down, we connect with people. We heal together. We're not superheroes, we're men! And only recently, I started learning these valuable lessons. We're biologically wired to seek comfort in others.

11/ If you're grieving during #lockdown just try this:

A. STOP DISTRACTING YOURSELF - Put your phone on aeroplane mode, close your laptop and go pray, meditate, write on a piece of paper or just stare at the wall and allow your self to feel whatever you need to feel

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B. PICK UP THE PHONE - Just call someone. It doesn't matter who it is. Could be someone you haven't spoken to in ages. Sometimes just the simplest words like "I understand" will make all the difference. Thank me later

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D. MAKE IT COUNT - And only after A, B & C, go make it count. Is there a project you still haven't started? Is there someone who still doesn't know how you feel about them? Is there someone you're still angry at? Do what you need to do, but make sure you have no regrets

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D. REPEAT - You'll most likely get those anxiety waves again. If you do just pause and go back to - A.

Sharing and being vulnerable doesn't make you less of a man. We're all in the same boat, and we have to stick together to overcome these difficult times #StaySafe