In 2018, in a conversation with my girls, I opened up about the mental battle I have been in and was still fighting. We cried and did all the cute stuff girly girls do and that eased my pain in ways I am yet to understand.
If only I had done that earlier, I kept thinking, liberation from all the mental stuff would have been faster. Then I thought about the reason I was silent and I remembered I lived in a community that perfection was the order of the day.
Through all my years as a girl who battled insecurities and other mental health issues, I had not one person to look to or reach out to, so being open about my struggle seemed so out of place.
By grace, I came across the likes of Jammie Grace, Janette _itz, and Jackie Hill who made me understand and appreciate my journey, and for once I felt my journey mattered and my difference was OK, and most importantly I got to know that I was not alone. I finally had someone to quote and say ‘oh this person also experienced this and did this’.
I wanted to be that local girl that served as a figure of ”me too”. I wanted to be the life someone going through all I did would see and have a me-too moment. It wasn’t enough that the people outside were talking about it. I wanted to, with my life and story, begin a conversation that otherwise our society frowns on right here in Ghana and Africa as a whole.
”You are not alone.” That is the message I hoped my blog will convey, that is why I started it and that is why I share my story. I hope that one day, a Ghanaian child who is depressed will read my blog and find comfort that it’s ok to be Ghanaian and have mental issues that need fixing or healing; a Christian girl with an identity crisis will know what questions to ask and how to deal with it.
Above everything, it was a prayer that someone learns to hope again.
The bottom line is that, I just wanted my story to be heard and my life to be shared and I just wanted people to know more about mental health issues.
Check out my first blog post here
Why do you write and what is the goal of your site? Kindly leave a comment. Thanks for reading
Your girl,
Afiya
You are so awesome! I do not believe I have read through anything
like this before. So good to find another person with some
genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Really.. many thanks for starting this up.
This site is one thing that is needed on the internet,
someone with a bit of originality!
thank you
I need to to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it.
I have you book-marked to look at new stuff you post…
This is absolutely amazing
thanks for reading
You are welcome
This is a conversation we need to keep having, Africans falling prey to mental issues because it’s deemed a white man Disease.
Your blog shall touch lives
Yes… We should. I pray it does ❤️. Thank you so much for reading
Hi, I can totally relate… Likes of Jamie Grace kept me going as well. It’s unpleasant to wake up and feel like taking your own life. I’ve had days like that but Glory! it’s in the past. I must say this blog post inspired me!
Wow… I am so happy to hear this. Glad we won and thrilled we are still winning. Thank you for reading and sharing, I am encouraged.
You reason is special
Thank you dear… Thanks for reading
You are welcome