By On a Monday morning like this, Abike knew her mind was already doing gymnastics before her body even stood up.
She opened her eyes, sighed, and stared at her ceiling fan like it owed her money. Then came the first intrusive thought of the day:
“Is this life really balanced or am I just inside one unending Lagos traffic of existence?”
She brushed it off. Literally. Brushed her teeth with speed and mental fatigue.
By 7:30am, she was already standing at the bus stop with the look of someone who had lived five lives in one night.
Then it happened.
A danfo conductor, with his voice louder than ASUU strike threats, shouted,
“One chance remain o! CMS, Oshodi! Sister with the fine forehead, come inside now!”
Abike entered. Not because of the compliment, but because she couldn’t mentally fight another 30-minute wait.
Midway through the journey, someone started arguing about ₦100 change. Voices rose, bodies pushed. Abike, who had been silently replaying her to-do list and her pending GTB loan, suddenly snapped:
“EVERYBODY, PLEEAASSEE! I’m not emotionally equipped for this nonsense today!”
The whole bus paused.
Even the conductor blinked.
One elderly woman muttered,
“Ah ahn. This one na real ‘emotional damage’ o.”
Everyone chuckled. But Abike? She knew the laughter wasn’t enough. Because deep down, her mind was tired, Not just from Lagos, From life.
Moral of the story?
Mental health is not a luxury. It’s the engine oil of your daily survival. Lagos will stress you. People will test you. Salary will finish mysteriously. But if your mind breaks down, not even Indomie and chilled Coke can save you.
Just like Abike, take time to:
- Breathe intentionally: not just when NEPA takes light.
- Speak up: even if it’s in a danfo. Your emotions are valid.
- Rest: not just sleep, but deep, guilt-free mental rest.
- Ask for help: therapy, a listening ear, or anonymous support. Silence isn’t strength.
Let’s normalise saying:
“I’m not okay today. And that’s okay.”
Because emotional stability in Nigeria is not easy but it’s possible, if we care for our minds the same way we care for data subscription.