Betty Irabor, publisher and founder of Genevieve magazine, has taken to social media to share more details on how she overcame depression.
On August 31, 2020, the 64-year-old columnist had recounted battling with depression for eight years and how she lost so much weight at the time.
But in a Twitter thread on Monday, Irabor narrated how she was able to find peace through self-discovery, self-evaluation, and forgiveness.
She also spoke about her encounter with a doctor at the psychiatric department of the Iranian hospital in Dubai.
โI remember sitting at the psychiatric department of the Iranian hospital in Dubai waiting for my turn to see a doctor. I was past being shamed or stigmatised. Besides, no one knew me here, I was no one importantโฆjust another psychiatric patient,โ she wrote.
โBetty Iraborโฆplease proceed toโฆโ I knocked and entered the consulting room. โWho prescribed all these medicines for you?โ The doctor asked after seeing my collection of antidepressants.โYou donโt need these, they are too many.โ
โHe sorted them and told me which to continue with & which to dispose of immediately. The truth was, while a few were based on doctorsโ prescriptions, I was also self-medicating. At the end of my consultation, I felt great. I understood a little more of the nature of my illness.โ
โI left the hospital with my head high and a bubbly spiritโฆBut it wasnโt quite the happy ending I expectedโฆ Depression persistedโฆ..I just could not find peace amidst the turmoilโฆMental illness sucks big time.
โI began to find peace when I realised how much learning and unlearning I had to do. I was tired of self-pity and this thing that was consuming my lifeโฆ I did not only want my life back, I wanted to be an even better versionโฆIt was time to fix me.
โHow did I go about it? I embarked on a journey of self-evaluation and self-discovery. I made peace with my past and then forgave everyone including myself.โ
In April 2019, Irabor had said she once attempted suicide.
