This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
Living with Bipolar Disorder: Esther Wangari's Story ¶
Esther Wangari Hahanyu, 46, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 20 years ago. She shared her story with hopes of raising awareness about mental illness.
Esther's journey began when she was 25 years old and her elder sister was battling schizophrenia. She wondered what it was like to see the world through her sister's eyes.
After her diagnosis, Esther was afraid that her life as she knew it was over. She wondered if she would still be able to work, make something of herself, and lead a life she would be proud of.
Esther's bipolar disorder symptoms did not appear abruptly. She had experimented with alcohol in 1994, which led to her being arrested twice for being drunk and disorderly. She later changed jobs and moved to Nairobi, where she made new friends and began drinking brown bottled beer.
It was after her diagnosis that a doctor recommended she stop drinking, which she struggled with but finally managed to do the same year. Esther believes that losing her job because she had become unpredictable had something to do with her making the decision to quit drinking and standing by it.
Esther has been on at least two sets of medication to manage her moods since she was diagnosed. She had her second major episode in 2003 after giving her life to Christ and praying a lot. She later relapsed and has since learned to manage her symptoms.
Esther now takes care of herself by being cautious about her diet and exercising three times a week. She has formed an online community in the form of three health and fitness groups on social media where she is an admin.
Esther works as an office administrator with a government ministry and uses her knowledge of public relations to run various health and wellness campaigns on social media. She is excited to see where her current relationship will take her, as she is dating someone who understands her condition.
Esther hopes that her story will help people gain a better understanding of mental illnesses. She believes that instead of dismissing someone as a 'mwenda wazimu' or telling a patient to snap out of it, people should try to understand their condition better.
