Ofusina – Part 2
When I came out with bipolar, of course, I was stigmatized; but it blew away.
And then everybody started asking me to do talks on mental health. You wouldn’t believe how many mothers have children that are depressed, and close to giving up their lives. So, I’m hoping that my story will urge them to step forward.
I was properly diagnosed at 28. But I’ve been unstable since I was child, and nobody knew what it was back then. Now I’m on Facebook groups ‘understanding bipolar’ and you’ve got newbies come on saying, ‘Oh, I’ve just been diagnosed. What do I do?’ And so that’s where I jump on; first stage, you know, nothing to worry about. There is a reason why I have this, you know. It doesn’t have to be a sad story.
I’m not rich, and I’ve come from a humble beginning and I have bipolar. There’s so much in the media about acceptance, especially in our ministry. We leaders – people need to know we have faults as well. I’m actually the first person that’s come out in the open in our Church as having bipolar.
Not everybody would like to state their illness. But if it’s to inspire, if it’s to do good, to glorify God, then do it yes. There’s always a benefit to everything we do; in everything we have.
This is what I do – I urge them; look, whatever illness you have, you have to talk about it. You have to bring it out in the open so we can all help.