Renowned Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has opened up on her past struggle with depression, a period she described as one of the most difficult times in her life.
Naijaonpoint reports that she revealed that the experience nearly silenced her passion for fiction writing, which has always been at the core of her career.
Adichie shared her story in an interview with CNN Africa, where she explained that the long battle left her deeply unhappy.
According to her, the constant weight of sadness made it impossible to hide her struggles, and it often felt like a shadow that followed her everywhere.
The author said one of the hardest aspects of that period was her inability to write fiction.
For someone whose identity has always been tied to storytelling, being unable to create left her in a state she described as terrible.
To cope, she threw herself into other activities, including delivering speeches, reading, and writing poetry.
While these distractions gave her some relief, she admitted they could not completely take away the emptiness she felt when she could not write.
Reading her favourite books and engaging with poetry, however, slowly reconnected her with language and creativity.
Adichie explained that her healing was not immediate but came with time and patience.
She said that the creative process, which she views as spiritual, eventually returned, allowing her to complete her latest novel, Dream Count.
She described the book as a personal triumph, marking the end of a dark chapter in her journey.
The award-winning author expressed joy at the release of her new work and gratitude for the readers who have embraced it.
She said that finishing the novel felt like regaining a part of herself that had been lost during her battle with depression.
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