May is Mental Health Awareness month and one of the common mental disorders is anxiety and depression. The subject of this interview was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder at 16, she speaks about her depressive episodes, coping and what she wishes she could change about the mental health system.
How old are you?
I’m in my mid-20s.
When and how did you know you had anxiety and what kind of anxiety do you have?
I have general anxiety with chronic insomnia and I first got diagnosed when I was 16/17.
I’m sorry. Do you think a terrible incident might have impacted your anxiety? Maybe something bad happened in the past?
No, nothing necessarily happened. I believe that some personalities are more susceptible to anxiety.
Has it interfered with your life? Your self-esteem?
It has interfered especially with my sleeping. If I get anxious, I lose sleep sometimes for weeks. I also have bad episodes where I stop eating. I wouldn’t say it has affected my self-esteem, I’d say self-esteem issues have led to increased anxiety.
Self-esteem issues increased your anxiety, can you elaborate on that?
Because I was chubby as a child and I am pigeon-toed, I used to get anxious meeting people and it made me paranoid about walking into rooms.
Editors note: Pigeon toes are a condition where your toes turn in while you’re walking or running. It’s more common in children than in adults.
Do you still feel uncomfortable meeting new people and do you get panic attacks?
It’s less about actually meeting new people; It’s more to do about walking into the room. Once I start interacting the anxiety goes away. I have had panic attacks but not so much anymore as I am more likely to have a depressive episode.
How long has your depressive episode lasted? Have you ever been told that you are overreacting?
A week is a longest and worst episode I have had and, yes, I have been told I am dramatic.
During your depressive episodes, how do you cope? What’s one thing(s) that helps you?
What has helped me is finding things that I generally like to do outside the house so it gets me to think about other things.
After you were diagnosed, did you visit a doctor regularly?
I had to go through cognitive therapy to help me sleep better and manage my anxiety. I saw her every week for 4 months until I moved back to Nigeria.
You haven’t seen any therapist here in Nigeria?
No, I once met up with a life coach but it wasn’t the same thing. Therapy in Nigeria is unnecessarily expensive.
I have heard it’s expensive and scarce. What’s their price range like and do you think it’s worth it?
I have never gone for a session but I believe it’s 25,000 naira per session.
How about your relationships, has it ever caused friction between you and your partner? Have they been helpful in any way?
It does but that’s my personality adding to it. I don’t like being seen as weak, so when I’m in a relationship and going through a bad period I normally end it.
But do you always mention that you had anxiety before the start of the relationship?
It wasn’t something I used to do before but I am very open about it now.
I understand. Do you think your anxiety has shaped who you are at the moment?
I do; I think it’s a blessing as much as a curse. However, I believe that who I am in life is designed to help people.
How are you doing that or how do you intend to do that? I mean helping people.
Through my podcast- The deep dive with SuddenlySane. I’m currently taking courses to learn about mindsets, relationships and the science of happiness. I plan to eventually start a service through which people can book sessions with me and I help them navigate their lives. The idea is to keep it quite affordable, and has different price points for students, NYSC, low income, and it will go up in price. I try to do Lives and interactive sessions where people can ask me questions.
I think that’s a fantastic idea. Also, what do you think people with anxiety can get cured or do they just learn how to cope?
And maybe also if people learnt to cast their cares on the lord life would be easier. Also, it might be possible depending on the individual
If you had the chance, what are the things you could change the mental health system in Nigeria?
The transparency and destigmatizing of mental health issues.
