Laurell K. Hamilton
Everybody on the street is either going through one thing or the other. So many things are covered by clothes as clothes cover so much agony and reproaches.
No one can tell the secret behind that face, it is hidden.
Hmmm! Depression is real!
About two years ago, my cousin's brother ran into some debts, he used his friend's (about 3guys)school fees to do some online business like PONZI business and immediately, he put 800k (Eight hundred thousand naira) into the business, it got folded up. As in, it crashed, he lost all the money without withdrawing a dime. Then, the time to pay school fees is around the corner because the examination is on its way🤔🤔
My cousin refused to tell anyone at home not even his Mom. Kunle started looking for money to pay back his friends, but there was no way out. All his efforts to get the money were to no avail including his school fees. They were in their final year at that time. Kunle started thinking otherwise with the way his friends were on his neck both morning and night. His phone received so many threatening messages and this set in depression into Kunle's life.
One day, he called me that he was coming to my place for a weekend which was not the first time. He called me before leaving his school and I was waiting for him. On not seeing him, called his mobile number like never before but could not reach him. I couldn't reach my cousin for some hours. I began to panic with negative thoughts here and there.
Throughout that night, we didn't see my cousin and we couldn't sleep. Then, the following morning, we started the search for my cousin from one bus park to another, police station to another 😭 His phone number was switched off.
On the 3rd day, we got a call from an unknown person (a hunter), calling to inform us that they saw a guy in the forest claiming to kill himself😭😭 The phone was handed to the person and it turned out to be my cousin. How come? What happened? Where are you? Why did you do that? All these and many more were what I asked at the same time. Kunle slept in a thick forest for days not minding the wild animals around😱. Depression is a killer truly
We went to get him, brought him home, and tried to get him to talk about why he thought of killing himself. That was how he narrated the debt issue to us and the only solution he could think of was killing himself🙆
Why? Kunle was depressed 😔😔
What is Depression? Depression is a mental health condition that can have a profound impact on individuals and their close relationships.
I started counseling my cousin, I entered into a deep talk with him and gave him a series of examples of how our neighbor died as a result of depression. My neighbor lost his job while he had a wife, who was dependent on the husband with five kids. Depression set in when he could not afford the bills on him and his wife started cheating because he could not provide for them anymore. My neighbor committed suicide, he jumped into the river and died. The dead body was found on the third day. This happened before my cousin's attempt. Depression is real!
However, with patience and self-compassion, overcoming depression is a gradual process and it is important to acknowledge that recovery takes time and progress can vary from person to person.
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Friends and family supported in providing emotional and financial support to him during the trying time. Nobody scolded him for what he did because we wanted him to heal from this depression. We all played a good role in bringing him back to reality after so many months of selfless talk. **Love is important!
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He made a wish never to be in that situation again. No more Ponzi neither is he going to use someone's money for something like that.
I'm glad to tell you that, Kunle was able to pay his friend's fees because everyone gathered one penny and two pennies altogether to make the 400k. He is a graduate today, doing well in his field of study.
Thank God, the good Samaritan saw him before he committed suicide.
What lessons did I learn from this experience?
We should learn how to speak up. When faced with a battle that is beyond our reasoning. Talk to someone, confide in someone who can help you out of that situation. Even, if not all are willing to comfort, some are willing. A problem shared is half solved
Be mindful of your actions and prioritize your conscience when making decisions. **Get wisdom get more understanding
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Depression is so common nowadays before you know it,/she has committed suicide as a result of depression 😢
All images are
My submission to @hivelearners writing edition on the topic; of DEPRESSION IS REAL.
Thank you for visiting my blog, looking forward to your comments.
Yours in love @flourishandflora
