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BREAKING THE SILENCE FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT: A JOURNEY THROUGH NAVIGATING DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY OF A YOUNG CONGOLESE MAN

By Reagan Baseya Mbungu updated on January 15, 2024

Depression and anxiety are growing concerns worldwide, and Africa is no exception. As a continent facing many socio-economic challenges, Africa is also confronted with mental health issues that are often overlooked or underestimated. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in particular, has experienced a tumultuous history of conflict, poverty,and political difficulties, which has had a significant impact on the mental health of its population and caused profound psychological damage, among which depression and anxiety predominate. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around one in four people will be affected by a psychological disorder in their lifetime. In Africa, an estimated 10% of the population is currently affected by a mental disorder, with an even higher prevalence in conflict zones, where one in five people live with mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. 

Anxiety is one of the most common and widespread mental disorders and in DRC, anxiety levels are exacerbated by factors such as insecurity, violence, poverty, and limited access to mental health care. The armed conflicts that have ravaged the country have left deep scars on the psyche of the Congolese population, resulting in elevated levels of stress and anxiety. 

Indeed, everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, but the symptoms are normally short-lived and inconsequential. However, when the cognitive, physical, and behavioral symptoms of anxiety are persistent and severe, and the anxiety causes distress that interferes with the ability to work or study, socialize with friends, and perform daily tasks, that demonstrates that the anxiety is no longer within normal limits. 

 

 

Anxiety symptoms can manifest themselves in diverse ways: cognitively (anxious thoughts and anticipation of anxiety), physically (palpitations and shortness of breath) and behaviorally: avoidance of feared situations, avoidance of activities like those that provoke anxiety (e.g.exercise) and adoption of safety-oriented behaviors. 

Depression, on the other hand, is a psychological illness characterized by a sad mood triggered by an emotional shock that is often difficult to identify. Depression can be subdivided in two other ways, according to two different and complementary points of view: a descriptive point of view which sees it as a syndrome, i.e. as a set of observable symptoms without considering the cause; and a psychoanalytical point of view which, on the contrary, defines it precisely in relation to the causes which provoke it and the unconscious mechanisms which explain it.  

Depression is characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest in usual activities, sleep and appetite disturbances, and suicidal thoughts. Anxiety, on the other hand, manifests itself as excessive worry, panic attacks and hypersensitivity to stress.  

These overwhelming symptoms can appear in people of all ages, from diverse backgrounds, in different areas with similar or dissimilar mental damage, mild or seriously aggravated. 

The internal dialogue of people struggling with these conditions is often marked by self-criticism and negative self-talk. This negative thought pattern not only fuels anxiety and depression, but also contributes to a cycle of self-sabotage. 

Yet, despite the challenges we may face, mental health problems in Africa, including the DRC, remain largely ignored or stigmatized. It is crucial to raise awareness of these issues and promote access to quality mental health care, because as formidable as anxiety can be, depression can be even more devastating. 

 

Unveiling the Shadows: Exploring the Mental Health Struggles  

As human beings, we are faced with various aspects of culture and life, and we do not encounter the same situations on a personal level. It took me some time to understand the various symptoms that characterize these disorders. Indeed, living in a country where the subject is taboo and where most of the population could not explicitly explain their mental state due to the social stigma around mental health, which limits the expression of emotions and seeking help, it is difficult to comprehend the distress that can disturb humans. .  It is an “invisible” illness that instills fear and that our loved ones struggle to grasp. You might feel, when you are sad, irritable, or stressed, that you too are developing mental health problems. But these emotions are normal and usually pass with time. However, sometimes these emotions persist and intensify. Some thoughts (worries) or behaviors (consumption) can also take up a significant part of your life. 

 

 

From my perception, armed with a better understanding of the subject, my early experiences with anxiety date back to when I was 10-11 years old. Growing up as an overweight, timid, and belonging to a reclusive Jehovah’s Witness upbringing, which is often likened to a cultic experience by the ignorant, these elements hindered my socialization. To start with, I was outgoing, extremely cheerful, filled with joy, productive, sociable, and positive. I loved expressing myself in public, especially in a religious environment like mine, where young people would deliver speeches on a podium. However, when all eyes were on me and I felt judgment, the recurring question of my gender, and people talking about my voice and weight, constantly urging me to ‘walk like a man’ at 10 years old, I began to feel less loved and appreciated, making me feel unsupported. I started experiencing cramps, developed an intense fear of the podium that once represented a passion for me, withdrew from youth programs, and began to withdraw from social situations. The transition to secondary school was challenging. I found a support system among wonderful people, but for a child marked by judgment, comparison became my primary struggle. Every gaze upon me was torture, every snicker a mockery, even though it was not always the case. This was my journey for six years, without discernment and without understanding the distress that would become my daily life. Six years of seclusion despite being surrounded by fantastic friends, but feeling eternally alone, a mind troubled by horrible thoughts, the feeling of never being enough, working harder to excel and shine intellectually, yet never feeling any satisfaction. All these elements combined give you a clear idea of mental health, but as an ignorant youth surrounded by children and adults uninformed about the subject, my distress was perceived as laziness and a jumble of emotions for a misunderstood youth. And honestly, I believed this for most of my childhood, adolescence, and transition to adulthood. 

When you carry a heavy burden for so long, there comes a moment when you snap, and I did snap due to various issues such as betrayals, financial problems, leading me into a dark period, arguably the worst in my 25 years of life. I was caught up by over 15 years of maintaining an appearance and a strong image to fit the stereotype of the strong, unemotional, invulnerable black man instilled in me from an early age. This manifested as intense, profound sadness accompanied by inexplicable tears, becoming emotionally fragile, experiencing immobilizing panic for hours, lying on the ground with no desire to get up, wishing for death, and most importantly, inner peace. There was an increased loss of interest, self-sabotage, no desire for social interaction, withdrawing from loved ones, abandoning activities, refusing to work, constant fatigue leading to a slowdown in life, sleep disturbances, harsh self-judgment, constantly feeling like a failure. But the breaking point was embracing one’s distress, finding pleasure in feeling bad, indulging in every scenario of a better life without making the effort to materialize it, settling for ‘I could have,’ feeding your soul daily.  

But for a young person with so many ailments, how do you get back on your feet and have a balanced life? 

 

Resilience Beyond Borders: Overcoming Depression and Anxiety as a Young Black Congolese  

I am fortunate to have friends who are there to help me when I am in despair. Having lived in open-minded, modern societies in other countries they have more knowledge and acceptance of various conditions that affect mental health. It helps to have open conversations with people who are also struggling with mental issues. For they have a better understanding of the emotional baggage and trauma that affects their mental wellbeing. They understand the despair that affects a struggling fellow human. 

 

 

Whenever I withdraw from everyone for more than six months, my friends reach out to me with concern. When I started opening up, they gave me a better understanding of what I was going through. After   a whole month of doing research on mental health, depression, anxiety, and a helpful connection with a friend who was a psychology student, I was feeling less alone and distressed. But   unfortunately, not everyone has the chance of having a circle of well-educated friends that can take them out of the darkness and that support is not there for the people in remote areas. Even as I am writing this text, I know that it will never reach them, so that they know that they are not alone, and that their internal battle with being misunderstood is only the manifestation of a suffering that has gone on too long. 

I managed to get back on track, but I almost sabotaged my chances due to self-imposed limitations and insecurities, leading to dark thoughts about my abilities. Despite now being well-informed about mental health, I cannot help but wonder about the countless others facing similar struggles in a country with a high prevalence of mental health disorders. 

What about the millions who are misunderstood and lack proper education about mental health? Exposed to trauma from armed conflicts, violence, and hindered by socio-economic and cultural barriers that impede access to mental healthcare, particularly for men in my country. There is a high prevalence of risky behaviors such as excessive alcohol or drug use among men with depression and anxiety, compounded by a lack of mental health awareness tailored to men in my country. 

The impact of gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual abuse, on women’s mental health is profound. There is a scarcity of specialized mental health resources and services, a shortage of trained healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat depression and anxiety, as well as geographic and financial obstacles that limit access to mental healthcare in remote rural areas. 

By identifying negative thinking patterns and developing healthier coping strategies, individuals can gradually break free from the grip of self-sabotage. 

Moreover, creating a dedicated support network is vital in combating self-sabotage within the context of anxiety and depression. Encouraging open conversations about mental health and fostering a sense of understanding and empathy can provide individuals with the validation and reassurance they need to confront their self-sabotaging tendencies. 

Furthermore, the government should invest in establishing accessible mental health services for all. This includes training mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as establishing mental health centers in various regions of the country. These centers should provide screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up services for individuals suffering from depression and anxiety. It is especially important that these professionals are well trained and non-judgmental when dealing with the individuals who come to seek help. It is essential that they feel secure, that their confidentiality will not be compromised and that they are in a nurturing environment for their personal healing. 

“By acting proactively, we can hope to build a society that values mental health and offers a brighter future for all”. 



Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS