Looking at the current situation of the world, especially in a place like Nigeria, the general mental well-being of the populace has been challenged by several factors, such as economic instability, among others. If we were to have a question-and-answer session to capture what Nigerians are currently going through, we'd have a list of problems. Luckily, I am a Nigerian, so I’ll drop my thoughts as a patriot (lol!). If you are familiar with my writeup, you know it’s story time (smiles). I’ve had several challenges that have affected my mental health. Beyond the problem, I’ll state the practical steps I took to get out!
There was a time I worked in Lagos, Nigeria. If you are familiar with this terrain, you already have an idea of what daily stress looks like. Traffic is a must, and the duration you’ll spend in one is determined by "only God knows." I worked in Lagos for about 2 years. With all the hustle and bustle, everywhere is always busy, and you can get robbed at any time. Touts are everywhere; everyone is always on the move, and even those dressed corporately may sometimes turn out to be the "best hooligans!" Trouble can start at any time! You just have to always be ready!
I remember working with a company as a communications officer, and I had to get to work early. The traffic, the rowdiness, and even the volume of work on my desk really affected me mentally. On two occasions, I had accidents; I was also robbed twice, and I was admitted to the hospital three times within the space of a year! I had to sit down and think of a way out! My resolution secured a good time in the second year.
The first thing I did was to identify my problems. Lagos is big, and a lot of people are in my shoes. They experience traffic, have a lot of work on their desk, and probably got sick, robbed, or even worse. How did they deal with their situation, and how can this help solve my problems? I leave the house as early as 4:30 a.m., and I get back sometimes at 10:30 p.m. or later, depending on how late or early I leave work. There was a lady in my street, and we met about three times very early in the morning. After the "hi’s" and "good mornings," we got talking, exchanged contacts, and it clicked in my head to schedule a meeting with her; luckily, she agreed. Her name is Busola. I got to know she works for a company just like I do. She was born and bred in Lagos, so she knows the terrain. What I didn’t know was that there’s a bus that picks her up every morning and also drops her off in the evening. She had an agreement with her line manager to always fix all tasks on a daily basis, even if she had to take them home; she just needed to get the job done, not necessarily at the office. Their company bus follows a route that beats the traffic in the morning and leaves early enough to beat the evening traffic. I asked Busola to put in a word for me, and she talked with the driver, who agreed to take me along for a small price. I also adopted her work approach, which really turned out nice!
Apart from consulting someone who can relate to my challenges, in order to complete my mental health therapy, I made plans to travel outside Lagos occasionally (once a month, sometimes every two months), and this really helped. I’ll also advise you visit a counselor or therapist if you need to; I visited my mentors.
The lesson here for me is to always find a person, or if you can, people who have gone through what you’re going through, and get practical solutions to your problems. I tell people, "If you are poor, don’t beg the rich for money; only ask to be their friend! That way, you can learn and navigate your way out of poverty!"
Have a great day, y’all!
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