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#SCDepressionChat: Support from family and friends is important in fighting depression



I won't say I'm clinically depressed. I just had one terrible year that led me into another terrible year of depression and hiding behind a mask. The Ghanaian Society doesn't help men grieve properly. Men shouldn't cry. Men need to be strong. I've heard this and lived by it all my young life.

I have an obsession with planning. I set goals for the year, month, and week and usually live by them. When things don't go according to plan, I get agitated.

2014 I had planned to start my MSc (I found someone willing to sponsor), I was expecting my long overdue promotion, and the girl I had been dating since high school had agreed to marry me. Life looked good. 

I gained admission to read my MSc, but my sponsor passed away. My boss chose to delay my promotion by another year. One of my best friends died because his parents chose spiritual remedies over medical treatment, and my fiancée informed me she was pregnant for someone else six months to the wedding. From that point on, my perfectly planned life started to unravel.

By the end of 2014 I was dealing with more negative emotions than I was used to. I didn't know how to deal with them. I wasn't eating properly, I wasn't sleeping well, I had become withdrawn and I had serious trust issues. 

People don't ask questions if you smile so I learned to fake smile through it all. When someone asked why I was losing weight, I'd say I was on a diet. When they asked about the date of the wedding, I'd say soon. 

The only person I talked to was my best friend. In June of 2015, I made a new friend who had dealt with depression before. These two were my support structure and between the two of them, I didn't sink further into depression. 

I still have trust issues. I haven't fully dealt with all these issues, but it gets easier every day. I was lucky to have two great friends to get me through the dark days.


About the Author:

The Author of this post wishes to remain anonymous, and Sista respects their decision. 




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