I fell into depression multiple times – Denola Grey

Fashion enthusiast and actor Denola Grey, who recently opened up on his battle with depression, has revealed that he went into that state many times.

During a talk show with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Grey stated that despite the situation, he was able to find a way to get over depression.

He said,

“I was anxious and depressed multiple times and got over it. I never wanted anyone to pity me. I am a ‘solve your problem’ kind of man. If anything goes wrong in my life, I believe it’s up to me to fix it. Would I ask for emotional support from my family and friends? Yes. But, even that is a recent development. I used to face everything myself. In 2018, I had a bit of an awakening and decided it was time to be a bit more mindful. I started taking responsibility for my own blind spots and where I needed more work.”

Grey also maintained that he did not get to where he is on a silver platter.

He said,

“At 23, I had no other skills apart from fashion and journalism. And I had to make it work in Lagos with no friends. I had some friends but I had been away (from the country) for five years. I had to navigate through that. I have worked hard for everything I have. There were two years in my life when I was working for free. When people think that nepotism is involved, people will view you through their own level of awareness and perception. I cannot control that. You can feel either way you want about me. I don’t mean this in a condescending way but I don’t know you and I don’t care.”

When asked why he returned to Nigeria, he said,

“I ask myself that question every day. I don’t like sharing this but I am also a British citizen. I just wanted to observe the National Youth Service Corps scheme and leave because Nigeria represented a lot of pain for me. I wasn’t understood here. I was not allowed to be myself. However, I am happy I moved back. Nigeria taught me how to hustle. It doesn’t escape me for a second that I am incredibly blessed but I also know the amount of hard work that it took to get me here. Whether you like or not, Nigeria will pull the hustle out of you. I stayed because there was a bigger lesson to be learnt.”