The October edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – features an article by Nigerian physician and writer Chinaza Eziaghighala about rediscovering storytelling during a depressive episode and becoming empowered by it.

I have never been one to talk much; I prefer to write things down as a way of communicating. This began after seeing Diary of a Wimpy Kid, where I learnt about journalling, that intimate form of communication.

Born into a low-income Nigerian household where I was taught that education was my salvation, I focused on studying, so it was assumed that I would become the “doctor of the house.” Since I was perceived as smart enough and not “dumb” like those Art students, it was commonly said that “you can go from science to art, but not art to science.” I chose to study medicine. That was the end of my communication.

On getting into University, I focused on being the best student I could be until my 3rd year when I began writing poetry on Instagram, born out of the need to say something when my very sheltered expectations of real life didn’t match its reality. I was struggling as a medical student, working while in school to cover some expenses, and going through a harrowing romantic relationship, all without much guidance in the modern-day black hole that is Nigeria. It all came to a head at a medical outreach where I was screened and referred to see a psychiatrist because they suspected I was depressed.

Reeling from this new information, I returned to my first love: writing. I began writing poetry on my Instagram page because that was the form I was exposed to, having not been art-inclined for most of my life and being born smack in the middle of the Information Age. This piqued my curiosity because I felt like I was speaking again. It led me to rediscover the arts in the form of African literature from the likes of Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, something I had long since forgotten since finishing secondary school. I wrote reviews of books I read on my personal blog. This further evolved into a love for Cinema/Television: I discovered a like mind in Christopher Nolan; I watched The Marvellous Mrs Maisel and understood the widely used aphorism that art imitates life.

Writing was refreshing to me because I was communicating again. However, I didn’t fully understand the extent until I watched Dead Poets Society, where the late Robin Williams delivered this moving monologue. He said, “We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

My career as a doctor has been very complimentary to my practice as a storyteller because sustaining life has helped me understand the human race. However, writing, especially writing as storytelling, is what has truly saved me.

Welcome to Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International. Launched in March 2022, this new blog aims to highlight international art and artists, particularly from low-and-middle-income countries, with a focus on mental health. We welcome submissions for consideration, such as, comments on artwork, visual arts, literature, drama, films, podcasts, and videos. Do have a look at the instructions for blog authors for details on how to submit. General enquiries about the blog: BJPInternational@rcpsych.ac.uk.

Dr Marinos Kyriakopoulos, Editor-in-Chief, BJPsych International