Content creator Maureen Waititu has bravely opened up about her challenging journey of overcoming depression and battling suicidal thoughts following a public breakup and subsequent events involving her ex-partner, the father of her two children.
In an episode of the Lyn Ngugi show, Waititu candidly revealed, “Every day I couldn’t think about anything else. I would just zone out and think: what if I wasn’t here, what if I could stop feeling this pain.” She was diagnosed with severe clinical depression and anxiety during this difficult period.
The aftermath of the breakup was exacerbated by hurtful messages from strangers, receiving up to 100 direct messages insulting her and advising her to move on, claiming that going through a breakup was nothing out of the ordinary. In order to safeguard her mental well-being, Waititu made the decision to give away her phone and passwords, allowing someone else to manage them on her behalf.
She offered valuable advice to others facing similar challenges, encouraging them to stay true to themselves and acknowledging that what she experienced was not merely a normal or physical issue but rather a spiritual one.
She described episodes where she would find herself in unfamiliar places, with no recollection of how she got there. She even recounted moments of leaving her car door wide open and wandering off, as well as experiencing periods of paralysis on one side of her body.
However, with the support of a friend’s suggestion to see a psychiatrist, Waititu stated that she came to the realization that she needed professional help.
When she started therapy, her condition was in a deteriorated state. Depression had taken a toll on her physical appearance, leading to patches of baldness and significant weight loss.
According to Maureen, the turning point came when she realized that her two sons needed her care and nobody else could replace her role in their lives. This realization motivated her to fight for her mental health and strive for healing, so she could be there for her children.