9 Ways To Manage Your Mental Health in Nigeria

If I had the power to change the world, I’d create something that allows you to check out of adulting using a free trial and if it is not for you, you cancel your subscription. Because adulting is hard! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 

Being an adult often comes with mental health struggles. The challenges of being a Nigerian, the pressures we put on ourselves, the pressure that comes from others – all of these can cause us to begin to struggle with our mental health in this Nigeria. 

How can one manage their mental health in Nigeria? Simply put, it involves a combination of both conventional and unconventional methods. In this article though we’ll be concentrating on the unconventional methods. Consider which of them is peculiar to your circumstance and apply accordingly. Let’s get into it! 

Drink Agbo (errr, just kidding…or not.)

As Africans, our herbs have been known to cure the incurable. If you’re looking for a way to manage your mental health look no further than agbo. Take gbogbonise for example, if it can cure headaches, then what is mental health that it cannot manage? Na smallz na.

Fast and Pray

Prayer is the master key, as they say. So if you seek to manage your mental health in Nigeria, why not pray about it? For two-factor authentication, add fasting to the mix. When you pray and fast about your mental health issues, it will pass away. Just ask Nigeria parents.

Revisit your cringe-y throwbacks

If you’re having a mental breakdown, try to make yourself feel better by looking at those throwback photos or memories that make you so ashamed of yourself. Yes! You’re feeling bad already. What’s the harm in making yourself feel worse? After all, you’re already down. You might as well reach the bottom. Plus, if your glow-up is dope, it could be a great way to remind yourself of how far you have come. That’s a sure mood booster.

Watch the news

Watching the news will help you see that people have far worse issues than you do. So you might as well take that mental breakdown and put it away for now and move on with your life. 

On the other hand, you could find news that will add to the despair you already feel. If you can’t beat your mental breakdown, make it worse! (Please don’t quote me)

Go Clubbing

What’s worse than a temporary solution? Having no solution at all. On that note, you could consider visiting the club when you’re having a mental breakdown. Being under the influence might help you feel better. But beware, it’s only a temporary feeling. When the effects wear off, you’re bound to feel even worse. But that’s the point, isn’t it? Cheers to unhealthy coping mechanisms (insert ekun egbere)

Offer sacrifices to appease the gods

Your village people may be the ones behind your mental health struggles It’s true! Before they bring you to your finish, make sure to offer some sacrifices so that gods will be in your favor and protect you from those witches and wizards seeking to snatch your mental stability from you. All you will need for the sacrifice is an octopus born with 9 tentacles, the kidney of a sheep, 6 pregnant mosquitoes, and a goat that barks. May the odds be in your favor!

Stay in Lagos

If you’re having a mental breakdown and you’re living in another part of Nigeria, consider moving to Lagos. Why? Because nobody is normal in Lagos and there are more than enough things happening here to drive your mental stability to its breaking point. So if you’re already in Lagos, you need not feel alone in your mental breakdown. We’re all in this together. The more, the merrier? You see? Misery loves company.

Start a business in Nigeria

This is one of the best ways to manage your mental health in Nigeria. In fact, you wouldn’t be the one managing your mental health. Nigeria and her unbearable policies will manage it for you. And they will do a fairly good job at it. So what are you waiting for? Start that business in Nigeria today! Come back in six months and let us know how you’re doing. PS: There’s an amazing community for small business owners on Fusion. Join the SME Connect Community here!

Confide in the Police (Again, kidding.)

Our generation really needs to do this more. After all, “The Police is your friend”. And if we don’t confide in friends, whom will we confide in? Just go to the nearest police station and request to speak to the DPO. Once you get to his office, make sure to be as vulnerable as you can with him. Worst case scenario, he asks his men to beat the mental breakdown out of you and put you in a cell for the next 12 days. Free food and accommodation… That’s not too bad now, is it? Nothing like a change of scenery to lift up your mood.

In addition to all these recommendations, taking care of your mental health in Nigeria involves being aware of your thoughts and feelings, practicing mindfulness and self-care, and making healthy choices. 

This includes getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and spending time with loved ones. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, and be kind to yourself along the way. 

By taking small steps and being patient, you can improve your mental well-being and feel better overall.

Try out the tips listed in the article and if it works for you then share the article with that friend who is also struggling with their mental health. You never know, this might be just what they need to cheer them up.