About a year ago I lost someone who not only was my mother but she was a central and pivotal part of my life. Everything I knew from infancy till adulthood I learned from her. She was my best friend. She was that someone that I did not have to say much to her to know that I was not okay. She knew what to say at the right time as well as what I needed for comfort. I am because she was that special.
Though my dad was not well when I left for the championships, deep-down I knew that he may never recover. So how did finding out my dad was no more make me feel? It hurt but I somehow managed to find solace and comfort because my mom was still there. She never made us feel like we no longer have a father-figure in our lives. She continued being a mother and also assumed a role of a father when she needed to. My uncles and older brother closed the gap she could not.
Since then I experienced two other losses of people I knew before my mom.; and they were those of my maternal grandfather whom I had probably met once in my life; and that of my uncle's wife. All of these do not amount to the void of losing a mother and what that loss has done to me mentally.
Today as I write this post, it has been months of pain. A pain I cannot explain. A pain that a physical wound can never compare to. But I am on a journey to recovery. I can now reflect on the days and weeks that passed where I found myself becoming a shadow of someone I used to know. Someone whom I thought had it all together. Everything that used to matter to her started to not to anymore. Her passions fell off the wayside and she started to live in a bubble of isolation. I love cooking, baking, shopping, writing and watching movies, etc. I found myself doing less and less of that as the days went by. I am naturally not much of a talker especially when I am at home because it is a sanctuary and a place where I take moments to reflect and listen more; even with that, I became mute. Through this journey, I also got to see people for who they are. Trust and keep your faith in God and you will not be disappointed. I received empathy, love, and kindness from people I was not expecting and Thank You to those special people who will forever have a place in my heart. I also got to see who is for me and who is not.

Outfit Details
Dress: Thrifted
Shoes: Countryroad - Woolworths
Bag: Studio.W - Woolworths
I remember one Friday evening coming from work to go into slumber and woke up the Saturday afternoon just to take a shower, eat and go back to sleep. This cycle repeated itself unconsciously so for about 3 months. It took me having a conversation with a colleague about how I was missing my mother and I needed to have one last conversation with her that she said: " go have your moment with her and cry if you need to because you have not accepted that she is no more". As I got out of the car that night, I ran straight into the house; took a shower and cried with the water running so that those in the house would not hear me. After an hour or so, I got out, tucked myself in bed and woke up to soaking wet sheets. It was then that I had a heart to heart conversation with myself about life and what I thought I knew until then. I wrote a letter to my mother penning down everything that I felt I needed to tell her. From then onwards I started re-evaluating everything in my life. I took my phone and called someone I have been seeing twice a month who is just there to listen and not judge me. A Psychologist. This is someone I never thought I would need to see again. Yes, I have seen one before about a loss that never made it to this world.Some call what I have been going through depression. Maybe they are right. I call it life and adjusting to change. I needed to go through the process because it was a foreign experience for me. Which leads me to this point today. It is okay to cry and ask for help. It is okay to not feel like you need to have it together all the time. Am I fully recovered? Oh hell NO. There are days I leave home kind'a-okay but get to the office and just feel like crying. I know not everyone will understand but it is a process one has to go through.
I have also been taking supplements that aid with mental and physical agility called Life Force by Vitalge. This product is 100% plant-based, whole herb botanical product containing revered ancient adaptogenic herbs from China, India, and Siberia. It has other benefits like anti-aging, cellular rejuvenation and health longevity. So far I am seeing an improvement on my mood and skin and I know it has something to do with this product and the other credit goes to the Psychologist. I have also been using a serum from the same company and it has been working wonders on my skin. Basically, I am loving them. I will be doing an in-depth review of the products I have been using in the coming weeks. For now, those who are interested can check them and some of the other Vitalge products on www.vitalge.com I have a 15% discount code (LIFESTYLEDIARY15) which you can use on the site should you want to make a purchase. It is valid until the 31 December 2019.
Please leave your comments below on your experience with mental health.