Men, Mental Health, Church and the never-ending Disconnect - Part One

It's an ordinary Friday for everyone else except myself (well, at least it feels so). I walk hastily and worriedly past one, then two, then a swarm of unbothered pedestrians as I force my way towards a place I have come to know just so well - the renowned Valley Hospital. On a different day, this would feel like my customary weekly journey towards self redemption. Redemption from an almost fatal fight with major depression - a redemption journey that has been ongoing for a few months now.

My psychologist has been lauding me for my good progress since we began the sessions. But today feels different for two concerning reasons: 1) I had booked a session outside of our normal meeting days (Thursday) and 2) I had sounded panicky and broken when I made the call the previous day booking the session.

Anyways, I head straight through reception as my friendly favorite nurse welcomes me with that usual reassuring smile and politely asks, 'Unataka kuona Dr. Rachael Anyona .' She notices the gloomy and unusual face I'm wearing today and fastens the process so I can go as quick as possible to Daktari.

Daktari is of course waiting patiently, with that ever-reassuring warm smile and welcome - anyone who has seen Dr. Rachael Anyona will back me on this one. No matter how hard she tries however, you can see the worry and concern she's trying to hard to mask. She points to the tough day she's having - all her clients for today seem to regress or just hit rock-bottom for some reason. She nonetheless makes me feel a little comfortable and gets me to start talking - and talking I do.

While my breakdown and regression was caused by love - well lost love and all - (aki mapensi wewe), Rachael sees a different problem I may be struggling with. After talking me back to a place of comfort and calm, she starts to sketch some chart - a chart I would later research to understand better myself - the Mental Health Wheel. The chart is divided into the 7 Dimensions of Wellness, from social, to Emotional, Occupational, Physical, Intellectual and, finally, Spiritual.

As she goes on explaining the Wheel to me and the reason I may be regressing, I can't help but return to the Spiritual Component. Well, who knew, going to church is as important as having moneys and an occupation? While Daktari goes on with the chart, and states how we'll handle these components separately, starting with the ones I score the poorest (well, your guess is as good as mine), I can't stop thinking about the Spiritual component of the 7 Dimensions of Wellness.

Needless to mention, I decide I must start working on my wellness wheel, starting with, well you guessed it....going to church. And, Sunday I must look for a church - I have been staying in the same location for over a year and have no idea where I'd access a church I feel I belong to. Being a staunch Catholic Church, I search, ask and search again and finally find a St. Monica Lanet Parish. Tomorrow I return to a place I haven't been to for the better part of a few years now - forgive me Lord.

Keep up with Part Two for my shock about the male gender I realized from this return to Church.