VULNERABLE WITH OLAYINKA
From Olayinka……
Hello lovelies,
Many thanks for opening this link, I am sure you had a purpose in mind before checking in here, you want to learn and hear someone talk about their struggles, challenges and how they eventually overcame it. The purpose of this interview is to provide succour to you if you're going through a similar challenge and also to learn a thing or two about how the interviewee scaled through, found rest and healing.
Once again, thank you so much for checking in, sit back relax and read on.
You are welcome
FIRST INTERVIEW WITH JOHN
This interviewee expounded on his struggles with stimulant psychosis, Stimulant psychosis is a mental disturbance caused by an overdose of stimulants varying on the drug ingested, but generally involve the symptoms of organic psychosis such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and thought disorder. Other symptoms may include mania, erratic behaviour, and aggression.
He had a tough time getting over the addiction but, he eventually did.
This interviewee is doing perfectly fine and wants his story to be heard.
Sit back enjoy and read on.
CAN YOU TELL US BRIEFLY ABOUT YOU?
I am John, I was born some 27 years ago into a family of four, I am the first child in my family. I schooled in one of the universities abroad and I completed my youth service not too long ago.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY SO FAR?
I grew up seeing my parents being at loggerhead almost every time .There was always this tensed atmosphere in our home and one way or the other, I became so withdrawn. The activities of these two had ample psychological effect on me as a child. All these distractions made me resort to drugs, when I smoke; I forget my worries and sadness.
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START SMOKING?
I started at the age of 18, I was introduced to it by my friends and it continued for 8 years. I smoked for eight years at a stretch from 2011–2018.
DID YOUR PARENTS AT ANY POINT FIND OUT ABOUT THIS LIFESTYLE?
Nah, there was no way they could have found out, I mean I was really cool, calm and collected and everything seemed fine with me. They couldn't have found out at any point and also, I had to travel outside Nigeria for my study so I had ample time to do whatever I wanted to do. My parents didn’t know for those years.
DID YOUR TRAVELLING OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR STUDIES AFFECT YOU NEGATIVELY IN ANY WAY?
Of course it did, I had ample time to do what I wanted to do, I also liked the fact that it gave me an opportunity to stay and be away from home. Like I said earlier, smoking was my escape and every opportunity I get to do it without disturbance was perfect for me
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU EXPERIENCE A BREAKDOWN IN YOUR HEALTH?
I had gone so deep in this and at some point; it took its toll on my mental health. I had lost control so much that I was admitted at a psychiatric hospital for some months and afterwards transferred to the rehabilitation centre for some additional months say almost 8 months.
WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU AT THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL?
It was not a good time for me, I had lost control of myself so much and if there’s anything I hate, its to be in a state where I am overly helpless and dependent on others. This was the exact state I was in at the time and I wasn’t pleased, I mean no one will be though. At the psychiatric ward there was a little bit of favouritism partly because I was an educated person, the nurses called me ‘engineer’ and partly because my parents were always coming around most of the time. I can say to a large extent, I was treated very fairly compared to other patients.
WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE AT THE REHAB?
I had to undergo a rehabilitation after I was discharged from the hospital, the sole purpose of the rehab was to make me stay off drugs. I mean it was over 8 years and it had become part of me. Anyone dealing with addiction can relate to what I am saying. At the rehabilitation centre, I met a lot of people, not only those who were involved with drugs but also people who were dealing with diverse mental illnesses. While at the rehab, I made up my mind that for no reason whatsoever was I going to come back to that place and I pledged allegiance to do whatever it will take me my to uphold this promise I made to myself.
DID THIS EXPERIENCE BRING YOUR PARENTS TOGETHER?
It sure did because they were coming often to see me and sometimes, they always meet themselves at the ward. So, to a large extent, it brought them together.
WHAT LESSSONS DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS EXPEREINCE AND HOW HAS IT SHAPED YOU TOBECOME A BETTER VERSION OF YOURSELF?
I saw my life flash before my very eyes, I could have lost it all but I am still here and the promise I made to myself still stands even though I still have this fear of getting married because I don’t want to be like my parents.
In all, I am still hopeful to get the best out of life no matter what.
WHAT HELPED YOU HEAL ON TIME?
It was a personal resolution not to be a victim again and not to subject myself to what I had been through. That was basically the resolute that helped me. I was undaunted, I wanted to heal. I wanted to snap out of the situation I was in and with this; my healing process became very easy. Also, I excused myself from people who could influence me one way or the other and I became a one man mopol. I also stopped going to certain places. I avoided triggers basically.
ANY ADVICE TO ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS DEALING WITH PSYCHOSIS OR STRUGGGLING WITH ADDICTION?
A lot of people are predisposed to substance induced psychosis because a lot of youngsters at the psychiatric hospital I was in back then were victims of substance abuse. Like everything in life. Your choice matters. For those struggling from any form of illness or addiction, the first step to getting help is your personal resolution .If you get a million people to help you and you’re not resolute within you, it will always be an activity in futility. The choice is always yours but I can tell you the experiences Iv had with my mental health far outweighs the benefits I got from the drugs I was taking. I was lucky, you might not be lucky like myself. Weigh your options and stay true to that which profits you.
ANY ADVICE TO PEOPLE PLANNING TO GET MARRIED OR ALREADY MARRIED?
Most of the awkward decision I ever made was largely due to the brouhaha at the home front, I advise married people, there is no perfect marriage or relationship anywhere as much as there are no perfect person. Learn to live in peace with your partner and if you must argue or quarrel, resist the urge to do it in the presence of your children. It is damaging to them. These things are seeds, seeds germinate and grow. Mind what you do in the presence of your children. For single people, compatibility is key and love is and cannot be enough in and for a relationship. Date intelligently and be smart.
THANK YOU JOHN FOR YOUR TIME
You’re most welcome.
Thank you everyone for reading till the end, feel free to drop your comments, follow and clap for this interview.
See ya next with another mind blowing episode
Cheers…..
