Staying sane

It was just another day, I had a lot of work to do yet I couldn't concentrate. I was busy surfing through the internet when I stumbled upon a story of a recent graduate who is presently suffering from a mental illness that has rendered her homeless.

This story was highly disheartening and I couldn't conceal my feelings towards this young woman's plight. I realized her case wasn't quite different from the several cases of mental health challenges faced by many in today's world, it was just unfortunate that she was neglected and left to her fate but for some kindhearted people that provided her with some basic necessities of life and shared her plight with the public. Hers would have just been  another face in the crowd.

Different people worldwide have experienced mental instability at one time or the other in their lives. It can result from anything ranging from an  unfulfilled career, to a turbulent marriage, drug abuse or molestation just to name a few. We all react to challenges in a certain way peculiar to every individual. I know a young man who is currently undergoing medical attention at one of the renowned psychiatric hospitals in Lagos just because his fiancee of many years left him stranded at the altar.

This man couldn't imagine his life without her, comprehend why she absquatulated and found it extremely difficult to let go of the bond they once shared. Gradually he allowed this heartbreak to overwhelm him and resorted to shutting everyone and everything out, which in return took its toll on his career, physical, social emotional and mental health. Most times our emotions can be so intense that they can actually determine how productive we are and the overall well-being of our mind and body.

Personally, I've been emotionally drained lately and it reflected in my demeanour and general attitude at work, a colleague gave me a book by Joyce Meyer "Living beyond your feelings". The book is filled with such insightful teachings and I learnt a whole lot on how to control my feelings from it.

In a world prone to fast lanes, sanity is a luxury many can't afford. This doesn't necessarily mean you've to be locked in a mental institution or asylum, before you realize the importance of being mentally stable and this starts with your emotions. It's a Herculean task in these recent times to maintain a healthy balance between our feelings and reactions to circumstances around us.

It's almost impossible to find someone who has not been emotionally stressed at a point of his or her life. I've listened to several people over the years and I've been able to deduce that there's at least a  marginal lapse in our mental health especially when confronted with challenges beyond ourselves.

Nevertheless, we should all endeavour to pay attention to our emotional and mental health. Staying sane is a deliberate action to put out unnecessary and negative energies and channeling them towards being the best version of ourselves we can possibly be.

Cherish the mundane wonders of life, smile, relax those tense muscles, love yourself and don't forget to breathe. Bottling up emotions can lead to behavioural disorders and in worst cases depression or insanity. Don't be a victim of circumstance, refuse to be a slave to your feelings. It should be the other way round. Of course it's difficult but attainable.

Written by Bello Adekunbi.

Bello Adekunbi "Kunbella" is an effervescent soul, bookish and loves watching classical movies. If she's not writing, taking long strolls on the beach or dancing, her head will definitely be buried in a book. Catch her on Instagram @kunbi_bello, Twitter @adekunbi_bello or Google #kunbellawrites.