Therapy session or something like that ...

I know. I know. The title is most probably awkward right? Well, I woke up today with a hankering to write about emotional wellbeing. My mind ran to 2017 - 2018. These were one of those years and a half. It was like after the 365 days, about 183 others were added. I was struggling with depression and somehow NF, an American Christian hip hop artist’s album, Therapy Session became my bear. I’d snuggle against her till my emotional bank ran bankrupt so I’d sleep off and wake up with a refill that would somehow run out by the end of each day. It also did not help that series were an addiction then. So imagine mulling over Netflix’s ‘You’ and ’13 Reasons Why’. Why wouldn’t darkness creep under your door and infiltrate all the spaces round about you?

It is unfair for me to burden you with tales of depression when I came to spread love and light. That’s what we need in “unusual” times like these when there are so many casualties of war being wheeled away as we soldier on in this war of Corona.

NTV Uganda, posted an opinion poll today about what people are doing to safeguard their mental health in the lockdown. What caught my eye was “Am already depressed I cannot do anything!” There were positive responses like listening to music, taking casual walks and spending more time with nature. The former is a reflection of what quite a number of people are feeling. There does not seem to be much to do about the endless pits in our stomachs after receiving bad news or counting the death tolls. I cannot dictate how anyone deals with their mental health because life hits us differently and each of us has different coping abilities. What we, however cannot lay aside is that facts have to be faced. Trajan (2021) states it as quieting the loud voice of denial [the word ‘quieting’ sounds so wrong but Google said it’s correct so who am I to argue?]. Where was I? Escapism feels so good in the moment, I cannot even deny that. Somehow you sweep things under the carpet then smile with the sun about what a beautiful day it is. However, it is a matter of time before the carpet is ruffled and you have to deal with the baggage. So face it. Face it head on that the season is tough, the lockdown is dreadful, that the relationship is slipping out of your hands and it is heart wrenching. This will make it easier to seek for help rather than when denial is screaming at the top of her voice.

Something else to help us with our emotional wellbeing is venting. What do I mean? Emotions demand to be felt. Find healthy ways to pay respect to their ‘human rights’. I mentioned that I struggled with depression and instead of venting, I found more junk to feed on. I now know that an exercise routine would have helped, writing like I am now, fellowshipping, talking to someone about it, not to mention screaming. Yes, you got it right. Screaming. There is a liberty in unboxing pent up emotions. It’s a bit extra but do whatever it takes to clean out your emotions closet.

Now that the junk has been trashed, the empty closet needs replenishing. Emotional wellbeing is attainable. The dreary news bulletins and ‘RIPs’ on Twitter should not weigh you down. As a Christian, I know that the friends will come and go, the dream trip to the Eiffel tower, the money, clothes name it, are all fickle. Only the peace that Christ gives can stand the test of time. I’ll leave you with this encouragement, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. So what things are you doing for your emotional wellbeing?