SomaliNet Forums

Salam,

I have been on these board for many years. One of the things I have always wanted to discuss and share on these boards is Mental Health.

I am only going share what I am comfortable with.

I have struggled with problems like anxiety and depression .

I think it stems from childhood. I was always a good kid but I would internalize things a lot. I think I became mildly depressed around 18 or 19. A lot of life changes at this time. New city. University. Job. Family struggles. Financial problems. Moving multiple times Etc. It became a situational problem where I didn’t have the proper tools to deal with stress. SO I would internalize everything, became very very tired.. Worrying made me exhausted and tired which led to depression. I was basically burnt out.
TO get my health in order I took a break from school and work. I did volunteer at a hospital and exercised and took medicine to get my energy level up which helped. Eventually I started back with school and work.

What I learned for this journey:

1.To know when to communicate and ask for help.
2. Learned to lighten my load in life and just do what I can
3. Have a lot more empathy for those who are even more worse off than me.

Why am I discussing this?

I think Somalis need to be more open to discussions about mental health issues. I have seen a lot and experienced a lot. For years I would feel ashamed about discussing this. But why should I? NO one is perfect. Yes my anxiety issues are still present but I am working on it. Some people have diabetes, some people have anger management issues. We all have our challenges and struggles.

I want Somalis to become more understanding and open concerning mental health problems, illness, disorders etc. There is a large amount of ignorance concerning this board issue. If I had to guess there are probably many Somalis struggling with Posttraumatic stress disorder especially since the continuing problems back in Africa.

I want people to discuss it more so they can help themselves and the people they care about. When an issue is not discussed enough then it creates more problems. Learn about it and please feel comfortable discussing it.

Anyways, that’s my story

I am not a great writer. So excuse any errors.

I realize people are going to troll this thread and me but I am okay with that . I have been here long enough to know that happens

I admire you for being brave.


People take things too personally and depend their emotions on what people say or do. This leads definitivly to depression. Thank god I have always been a cold bitch at heart but still a nice person. It helps.


The first step is to take responsibility for your own emotions.

Escapism. As long as I have enough money to buy vices and things to distract myself with, I won't feel depressed.

hunterKING wrote:Escapism. As long as I have enough money to buy vices and things to distract myself with, I won't feel depressed.

That's sad though. Can't you sit still in a room all by yourself and still be happy? You don't solve the problem by escaping. Nacasyahow.

LMFAOO wrote:

hunterKING wrote:Escapism. As long as I have enough money to buy vices and things to distract myself with, I won't feel depressed.

That's sad though. Can't you sit still in a room all by yourself and still be happy? You don't solve the problem by escaping. Nacasyahow.

You do solve it that way. Nacasyahay. You postpone it long enough that you die without having to face that shit.

hunterKING wrote:

LMFAOO wrote:

hunterKING wrote:Escapism. As long as I have enough money to buy vices and things to distract myself with, I won't feel depressed.

That's sad though. Can't you sit still in a room all by yourself and still be happy? You don't solve the problem by escaping. Nacasyahow.

You do solve it that way. Nacasyahay. You postpone it long enough that you die without having to face that shit.

You don't need to live like that baby. You need to lock yourself in a room and work on finding peace within. Tuuko salada waryaa.

Do you care what other do? Do you expect others to make you happy?

If it is possible to bond, respect and love someone online ilaahay khair iyo barako miidhan uun ban kaaga rajeenayaa, aamiin

This is a painful and controversial topic, and as a Somali community we're obsessed with keeping up appearances and competing against each other, often at the detriment of the vulnerable ones among us whose troubles can be seen as an untimely inconvenience, at the least, or as a 'snake' in the game of brutal social snakes and ladders. Such snakes would then be shoved under the carpet and overlooked because their needs are secondary to this game. Darwin's theory of Natural Selection and all that jazz in play I guess, unfortunately, when there is not a single Somali family who haven't been touched by this.

We as a community need effective and diverse ways of tackling such issues in order to eradicate these views and provide a duty of care to all, in accordance to their needs.

Simplyserene: Your topic made me teary eyed. I admire your bravery.

The reason why our people don't talk about depression or anxiety is because Somalis are the first to point and criticize you.


SS: you know my stance on this hun.

Simple Serene,
Thank you for sharing your story, which is the story of many Somali families/individuals. We as a community need to educate ourselves about Mental Health considering what our nation has gone through and still going through and the amount of burden and responsibility put on the shoulders of young adults. There should be no stigma associated with any ailment whether it is Mental or Physical. Often times the remedies can be as simple as modifying behaviors, and establishing coping strategies. All that is needed is to talk and seek out the appropriate remedy from the professionals. There should be no reason why someone should not seek help, when the help is readily available.

I have suffered from depression and anxiety for most of 2013/2014. Enough so to drop out of my masters and become a shut in for 5 months. Mother is fine the way I am as long as I'm taking the neccessary steps forward to get better, although she does occasionally say "just don't embarrass me". I don't blame her it's just the way she was brought up, to define any kind of psychological problem as "waali".

Most of my issues come from being idle and unproductive. Which I'm getting over now so I know your feels.

Chin up pal

I wish you peace and happiness.

Please donate to Jeffo wellbeing fund. Pm me for details.

Ma sha Allah! Good on you for being brave enough to share your story and struggles. I can imagine how hard that must be. Hopefully your story can/will help someone else to come terms with their own demons.

Mental health is an issue that needs addressing so well done again for highlighting a good cause. Wish you all the best.

Jeffo bro, keep yourself busy with goals that you want to accomplish and change your diet. That will make a huge difference. Eat more raw vegetables and fruits(juice the vegetables and fruits and you will get the nutriens immediately in the blood) if you can afford.

LMFAOO wrote:Jeffo bro, keep yourself busy with goals that you want to accomplish and change your diet. That will make a huge difference. Eat more raw vegetables and fruits(juice the vegetables and fruits and you will get the nutriens immediately in the blood) if you can afford.

Please refer to previous post.