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I felt the hairs on the back of neck rise as I felt a presence behind me. I stiffened and walked a little faster, hoping to lose the possible attacker. "Hello, Old friend" came from the shadows. I heard the voice and froze. "Oh No! It can't be, it couldn't be. It couldn't be back". With it's cold touch, I let out a cry. I turned around and started crying - pleading even. "No, Please No. You were gone. Please" I begged. I knew there was no use. It had come for me yet again and I knew why. I had let myself be happy and enjoy life, until the incident.
Depression was here and it felt like it was here to stay. I suddenly felt the darkness fill my mind. I embraced it. I didn't fight it. I had fought and lost in the past. I didn't see the point, I lost everything to the incident.
I continued with my life but with an intruder in my mind. My laughter was loud but void. The joy was gone from it. No one noticed. Days passed and I paid no attention. Weeks turned into months. Eventually, months turned into years and I lived as a shell of myself. Not the happy person I once was.
A few times, depressions right hand man, Suicide came along and made me feel calm. The idea of it brought overwhelming peace - or I thought it did. Sometimes, I wished Depression would just leave and I'd be free again. I wanted to be free, I wanted to love again and be happy again, but it seemed like no one bothered. No one asked me how I was or if I was okay. They were fine and most likely better off without me.
I walked into the Olympic sized pool dressed in my best bikini. I never swam alone because I was terrible at it. I felt myself begin to sink as my feet touched the water. I held my breath, then I let it go, slowly, I released the air from my lungs and I stayed down. I closed my eyes and the darkness finally takes me. I say a prayer in my head, hoping all the people in my life lived their best life after I was gone. In a split second, I feel the need to have said goodbye, I wanted to say goodbye.
Although not treated as such, depression is a big deal. It's a very important problem in our society today. 50% of all suicides were caused by depression. First what is depression? Depression is a mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. Don't be ignorant (and racist) and think this is strictly a white people problem. According to the WHO in 2017, it was recorded that Nigerians are the most depressed people in Africa with almost 7.1 million depressed people (that we know of), despite being known as the happiest people on earth. 4.1 million of Nigerians suffer from anxiety disorders -another major issue but not today's. About a million people end their own lives yearly, disregarding failed suicide attempts. These are based on statistics on record. I'd like to think it's a lot more.
Depression is real, so is suicide, which is the leading cause of death among 15 - 29 year olds in the world today. This plague is eating up our youth -who, in case you forgot, are our future- at a rapid rate. Depression is not something to be joked about. You never know who's going through it, sometimes you do and just write it off as them being moody or dramatic. Try to be there for people. Be present and active in people's lives, show them they matter and that you care.
If you're depressed and reading this, you're loved by someone. It may not be me, but you are, you mean the world to someone, they'd break without you. Stay strong, Get Help. You can win
Please feel free to use and SHARE the information below. You don't know who needs it. Also, feel free to comment useful information for people battling depression and those contemplating suicide.
An initiative of LUTH -Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN)
Suicide Prevention Hotlines - 09080217555, 09034400009, 08111909909, 07013811143
Therapy Service
Psych.ng
phone - 08083523600
website - www.psychng.com
address - 13, Iyanda Bashua Close, 110001, Fola Agoro
Depression was here and it felt like it was here to stay. I suddenly felt the darkness fill my mind. I embraced it. I didn't fight it. I had fought and lost in the past. I didn't see the point, I lost everything to the incident.
I continued with my life but with an intruder in my mind. My laughter was loud but void. The joy was gone from it. No one noticed. Days passed and I paid no attention. Weeks turned into months. Eventually, months turned into years and I lived as a shell of myself. Not the happy person I once was.
****
A few times, depressions right hand man, Suicide came along and made me feel calm. The idea of it brought overwhelming peace - or I thought it did. Sometimes, I wished Depression would just leave and I'd be free again. I wanted to be free, I wanted to love again and be happy again, but it seemed like no one bothered. No one asked me how I was or if I was okay. They were fine and most likely better off without me.
****
I walked into the Olympic sized pool dressed in my best bikini. I never swam alone because I was terrible at it. I felt myself begin to sink as my feet touched the water. I held my breath, then I let it go, slowly, I released the air from my lungs and I stayed down. I closed my eyes and the darkness finally takes me. I say a prayer in my head, hoping all the people in my life lived their best life after I was gone. In a split second, I feel the need to have said goodbye, I wanted to say goodbye.
*************************************************************************************
Although not treated as such, depression is a big deal. It's a very important problem in our society today. 50% of all suicides were caused by depression. First what is depression? Depression is a mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. Don't be ignorant (and racist) and think this is strictly a white people problem. According to the WHO in 2017, it was recorded that Nigerians are the most depressed people in Africa with almost 7.1 million depressed people (that we know of), despite being known as the happiest people on earth. 4.1 million of Nigerians suffer from anxiety disorders -another major issue but not today's. About a million people end their own lives yearly, disregarding failed suicide attempts. These are based on statistics on record. I'd like to think it's a lot more.
Depression is real, so is suicide, which is the leading cause of death among 15 - 29 year olds in the world today. This plague is eating up our youth -who, in case you forgot, are our future- at a rapid rate. Depression is not something to be joked about. You never know who's going through it, sometimes you do and just write it off as them being moody or dramatic. Try to be there for people. Be present and active in people's lives, show them they matter and that you care.
If you're depressed and reading this, you're loved by someone. It may not be me, but you are, you mean the world to someone, they'd break without you. Stay strong, Get Help. You can win
Please feel free to use and SHARE the information below. You don't know who needs it. Also, feel free to comment useful information for people battling depression and those contemplating suicide.
An initiative of LUTH -Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN)
Suicide Prevention Hotlines - 09080217555, 09034400009, 08111909909, 07013811143
Therapy Service
Psych.ng
phone - 08083523600
website - www.psychng.com
address - 13, Iyanda Bashua Close, 110001, Fola Agoro
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Comments
Great post. Depression is a condition that people should be aware of. At least even if one is going through it, knowing that it is depression is the first step towards healing.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Don't forget to help spread the word
DeleteIf you're reading this, surrender to Jesus and be set free. Whomever He sets free is free indeed.
ReplyDelete@Presh Cad and to whom it may concer, even Christians get depressed perhaps you're not very familiar with the term. Christian get Cancer, they fall sick, they get broken hearted, Christains fall down too. Having Jesus is an assurance of a blessed and better tomorrow. So don't say it as tho the moment you "surrender" you won't be tested. Your comment also makes it seem like only "Sinners" experience these things.
ReplyDeleteP.s be enlightened in the word of God before you start to throw off comments and ideas at people. The moment you identify yourself with a certain cause, you stand to represent them. Wisdom is profitable to direct.
Well said 👏
ReplyDelete