Today, depression is being spoke about more today than ever as many are trying to find answers to help others find peace for their mental health. Recently, Nigerian producer, Samklef spoke with The Punch as expressed dealing with depression as well as what helped him to thrive above it.
In the interview, Samklef shares with them that he has also gone through his own share of emotional downfall. “Entertainers are human beings too and we also go through tough times. When the issue of Harrysong came up, I understood his plight because I’ve also been in a similar situation,” Samklef states.
Going into what caused the turmoil, Samklef speaks on the affect his father’s death had on him. “It has to do with my upbringing. I lost my father at a very early age and I didn’t grow up with my parents. Imagine an 11-year-old boy, who had to struggle for everything in life, but he was eventually able to turn all the negativity into something positive.
That is my story and it still affects me till date because I’m very emotional. Till now, I don’t like playing games because I would feel very bad if I lose. I always like to win.”
In situations where he begins to feel himself come down, Samklef explains how he had to learn to be his main motivation and how music has help him to keep positive vibes around him. “Whenever I’m feeling down, I listen to soul-lifting songs such as those by Don Moen and other inspirational singers. That’s my reset button. If you ask anybody around me, they know there’s no dull moment with me. I always stay away from negative vibes because I’m very emotional.”
We all are coming to understand that depression is not something you can just get over. If left in it for to long, you can find yourself being engulfed by the pain of it. This is when you begin to hear stories of suicide. Samklef speaks on being able to push through and never have those thoughts.
“I have never considered suicide. I have been through worse things and I always survived. At the age of 14, I was on the streets of Lagos Island living alone. I realise that everything I’m going through is a phase. There are times that one would feel that things are not working out and that happens to everybody. Once something is not working out for me, I move on to the next thing.”
When it comes to depression, we all go through it at some point in our lives. The difference is all of use aren’t able to get out of it. To get through it, some have come to understand that it is just a period in life and knows that it will pass. Others find something to take their mind off of the problem.