DEPRESSION, SUICIDE & MENTAL HEALTH

Hello My Friend, I just wanted to write this letter to you personally. In Nigeria, where I reside it seems like it is one drama week after week. So, this past weekend we woke up to the breaking news of the demise of yet another beautiful soul through suicide. It is really sad and unfortunate.

The first commentary about the death of Afolake Abiola which I read was uncomplimentary, lacking empathy and oversimplifying the situation. She was single, no child of her own, all she does is go to church even though she had a good job however, she committed suicide. That commentary is unfair to her memory, nobody would ever know the true reason for her decision but it is out of place to just conclude that it is because she was single.

Mental illness has no respect for marital status, race, gender, or even financial status. The best we can do is to respect her memory and ask that her soul truly find peace and rest with her maker. She is gone, how about you? How do we avoid this type of occurrence from happening, because it is becoming one too many and all the advise if you are depressed speak out do not just cut it.

People who are depressed most times can't help themselves and therefore they cannot even ask for help because depression is a group of conditions associated with the elevation or lowering of moods. Which means a lot of the times you can't even tell what is responsible for the mood swing and so how do you tell?

I experience these types of condition too, so I can relate to an extent however, I have learnt how to come out of it. We are made to understand that there are 5 or more types of depression - clinical depression: this is a mental health disorder characterised by persistent depressed mood or loss of interest in daily life activities. Persistent depressive disorder, postpartum depression, bipolar disorder and bipolar II disorder.

Therefore, when someone gets into the mood, it becomes difficult to ask for help because their mind has been held hostage and can't ask for help. They can only receive help when given, which means we need to shift the burden of help to colleagues, friends, family members and relations. The need to be aware of our environment and the people in our lives so that we can identify a change in the pattern of their lives, behaviours, habits, these are all clues that something might be wrong.

We need to get off our high horses of self-absorption. The world does not revolve around just one person, let us pay attention to our environment, let us learn how to increase our self awareness so our we apply it to becoming socially aware also.

Mood swing starts in the mind and the vehicle are our thoughts and when the these thoughts are not tamed and it goes out of hand to the point where we become prisoners to our own thoughts. Therefore if we practice the attitude of being grateful, it will liberate us from getting trapped in the vicious cycle of mood swings.

Another secret that has worked for me is never to compare my life with someone else' life. I told myself that my life is not a competition or an item to prove a point with. It is my life, I will be present in the moment to enjoy all it has to offer me. Forget the things which are past because there is nothing I can do about them and learning not fret about a future which hasn't arrived. Just enjoy the moment.

Many people get either fixated on their past or fret about the future that hasn't arrived while neglecting to LIVE in the Present. My friend please be present in the moment and live your absolute best life.

Hey! Let me introduce myself to you, my name is Adenrele Onikosi. A man who was traumatized by the effect of my divorce 20+years ago and have learnt through many trials, experiences, education(formal & informal) and therefore now offer professional support to men and women seeking help through coaching, counseling and spiritual services you can schedule an absolutely no-obligation free discovery call with me and I will be happy to support you.