By Al Humphrey Onyanabo
Week 2 of our series on Mental Health: Nigeria Is Hard – And So Is Your Mental Load
“NO BE ONLY YOUR BODY DEY CARRY WAHALA. YOUR MIND DEY CARRY AM TOO.”
Let’s be honest: Nigeria is tough right now. From skyrocketing prices in the market to fuel scarcity, job uncertainty, insecurity, and the daily grind of “man must survive,” it feels like we’re all walking around with invisible weights on our shoulders.
But while we’re focusing on survival — working long hours, running side hustles, and juggling responsibilities — many of us are ignoring something very important: the mental load we’re carrying every single day.
It’s time we acknowledged it.
What Is Mental Load?
Mental load is e invisible, constant stream of thoughts, worries, plans, and pressures we carry in our minds.
It’s the stress of:
How to pay rent or school fees
How to provide food for the house
What happens if your business doesn’t pick up this month
Managing work, home, kids, church/mosque, and maybe aging parents
And often, you’re carrying this without help. In silence. With a smile on your face.
You’re Not Lazy — You’re Mentally Exhausted
There’s a difference between being physically tired and mentally drained. Physical tiredness can sometimes be cured with sleep. Mental exhaustion is deeper — it feels like:
You wake up already tired
You can’t focus or remember simple things
Everything feels like “too much”
You lose interest in things you once enjoyed
You get easily irritated or snap at others
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Many Nigerians are quietly burning out.
The Hidden Cost of Hustle
We often glorify the “hustle” culture — always busy, always on the move, always grinding. But at what cost?
When you are constantly in survival mode, your brain is in a state of emergency — stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline remain elevated. Over time, this can lead to:
Anxiety
Depression
High blood pressure
Weak immune system
Substance dependence (alcohol, smoking, pills)
Emotional numbness
You cannot pour from an empty cup. The more you ignore your mind, the more likely it is to shut down when you need it most.
True Story: “It Was More Than Just Hunger”
Sani, a 32-year-old okada rider in Kaduna, shared:
“ONE WEEK I HAD ZERO PASSENGERS. NO MONEY. I JUST DEY LOOK ROAD LIKE SAY MAKE CAR JAM ME. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST HUNGRY AND TIRED, BUT DEEP INSIDE I WAS ALREADY LOSING HOPE. THAT WAS FEAR MIXED WITH SADNESS. THANK GOD FOR MY NEIGHBOR WHO NOTICED AND FORCED ME TO OPEN UP.”
His story mirrors what thousands face: emotional pain masked as “just stress.”
Economic Hardship Affects Everyone Differently
Here’s how the current crisis is showing up mentally in different people:
Students: Feeling hopeless about the future; can’t concentrate; constant anxiety about job prospects.
Mothers/Fathers: Guilt about not providing enough; overworking; snapping at their kids out of pressure.
Entrepreneurs: Depression from business collapse; panic attacks before debt calls.
Workers: Silent burnout; fear of losing jobs; emotional numbness.
Youth Corps Members: Disillusionment; struggling to see value in their service year.
5 Questions to Ask Yourself This Week
These self-checks can help you identify if the pressure is becoming too much:
Am I feeling overwhelmed almost every day?
Do I wake up anxious about money, food, or the future?
Have I lost interest in things I used to enjoy?
Do I cry or get angry often, without knowing why?
Am I pretending to be okay just to avoid looking “weak”?
If you answered “yes” to 3 or more, you might be carrying more than you can handle. That doesn’t make you weak — it makes you human.
What You Can Do (Even Without Money)
Talk. Share your struggles with someone you trust — a friend, neighbour, family member, or religious leader.
Write it down. Journaling your thoughts reduces the chaos in your head.
Rest properly. Even 30 minutes of undisturbed rest can refresh your mind.
Limit doom-scrolling. Constantly reading bad news on Twitter/X or WhatsApp adds fuel to your anxiety.
Pray/Meditate. Not just as a ritual, but as a mental release.
Na True Talk
“MENTAL WAHALA NO DEY SHOW FOR FACE. EVEN PERSON WEY DEY LAUGH FIT DEY SUFFER FOR INSIDE.” — NGOZI, TRADER AND WIDOW, ONITSHA
Mind Tip of the Week
Practice a daily “worry dump.”
Each night, write down everything that’s troubling you. Not to solve it all, but to get it out of your head. Leave it on paper. Sleep lighter.
Help Corner
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, reach out to these mental health services:
Mentally Aware Nigeria (MANI) – mentallyaware.org | Instagram: @mentallyawareng
Asido Foundation – asidofoundation.com
She Writes Woman Mental Health Helpline – 0800 800 2000
iTherapy Nigeria App – Virtual counselling at low cost
From Scripture
“COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” – MATTHEW 11:28
“VERILY, IN THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH DO HEARTS FIND REST.” – QUR’AN 13:28
Coming Next:
In Article 3, we’ll explore how to recognize the signs of mental struggle before it gets worse. You may think you’re “just tired,” but your body and behavior may be sending deeper signals.
