Cape Town – Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter, Zoleka Mandela, recently took to social media to write candidly about her journey with depression, revealing how at some point it left her “feeling absolutely worthless”.
Writing on her Instagram account, Zoleka, who is also an author, said she felt “sad and demotivated”.
“I’ve come undone. My recent speaking engagement triggered my depression and anxiety. It’s left me feeling absolutely worthless, so sad and demotivated. I’ve cried for days, spent so many sleepless ones doubting my own abilities. It sucks,” she wrote.
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Zoleka said she had since gone back to her addiction counsellor and resumed therapy sessions.
“I’m back in therapy with my addiction counsellor and on my antidepressants and sleeping pills prescribed by my psychiatrist. I just want to feel normal again without the emotional heaviness of failure.
“Today’s a whole lot easier, I’m feeling lighter now and in a lot of ways, although I find anything involving basic human interaction still too overwhelming and extremely difficult but I know it’s simply a response to my depressed state and automatic need to isolate, socially withdraw, cutting off all communication with the world. I just need some time … to be left alone for now.”
Zoleka often opens up about her life struggles and has never been one to shy away from tackling difficult conversations, according to Drum.
“Eight years ago, she published her autobiography titled When Hope Whispers and “took readers down paths which most would not dare; from the horror of losing two children within two years, to the shadowy journey of cocaine addiction and rehab, and being a two-time cancer survivor,” said the report.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
