Anxiety Is Not Laziness: Understanding Hidden Struggles in Nigerian Homes

In many Nigerian homes, mental health is hardly ever talked about, especially

when it involves anxiety, which is often misinterpreted as laziness, weakness, or

even disobedience rather than being seen as a valid emotional experience. The

shame surrounding mental illness, along with deeply ingrained cultural values of

resilience, creates an environment where individuals struggling with anxiety

suffer in silence.

But anxiety is real. It is not a choice made by individuals. It is not a ‘bad

character’

. According to the World Health Organization (2022), over 300 million

people globally live with anxiety disorders, making it one of the most prevalent

mental health conditions in the world. A community study in a semi-urban

Nigerian town found a 12-month prevalence of anxiety disorders to be around

15%, with higher rates among females (≈19.6%) than males (≈11.4%) (Gureje et

al., 2006).

In Nigerian homes, the symptoms of anxiety may present in indirect ways such

as withdrawal from house chores, constant tiredness, restlessness, irritability, or

frequent stomach pains. These signs are often dismissed as signs of being

irresponsible or being lazy especially when it involves children and young adults.

But they are cries for help.

In Nigerian culture, there are expectations of resilience which makes it more

difficult to ask for support. Children are expected to “snap out of it,

” while adults

are told to “pray harder” or “grow up” when faced with difficulties. Unfortunately,

responses like these deepen the shame and delay access to mental health care.

It is time we learn to listen differently. When a child or adult in our home seems

“lazy” or constantly tired, we must pause and consider: could this be anxiety?

These are some practical ways to support a family or loved one with anxiety:

– Ask open-ended questions like “How are you feeling lately?”

– Create a safe space for emotional expression.

– Encourage, instead of criticising.

– Consider seeking the help of a professional counsellor.Talking about anxiety will not make it worse but ignoring it will. The earlier we

understand that anxiety can appear in form of silence, irritability, or avoidance,

the earlier we can help those we love heal.

Final Thought: If someone had a fever, would they be asked to “snap out of it”?

Anxiety and other mental health issues deserve just as much understanding. Let

us replace judgement with compassion, both at home and in our society.

References

World Health Organization. (2022).

*World mental health report: Transforming

mental health for all*

. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338

Gureje, O., Lasebikan, V. O., Kola, L., & Makanjuola, V. A. (2006). Lifetime and

12-month prevalence of mental disorders in the Nigerian Survey of Mental Health

and Well-Being.

*The British Journal of Psychiatry, 188*(5), 465–471.

https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.188.5.465