By Tamlyn Canham
Actress Nobuhle Mahlasela has opened up about her battle with depression and anxiety.
The ‘7de Laan’ star says she recently had an anxiety attack that left her in tears.
“I woke up one day last week and I couldn’t take it anymore! I was overwhelmed with traumatic incidents I encountered and all the thoughts in my head the last couple of months.
“I cried so much I couldn’t breath and I had a severe headache throughout this episode,” she wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.
Fighting back
Nobuhle says she decided to fight back.
“…this time I was not letting it get to me. I picked up the phone called my sister and a close friend to let them know that I’m not okay, and that simple act of calling someone was me fighting!
“I eventually gathered myself and went to work, driving to work I saw stopped behind a truck and there in front of me there was a sign that I am going to be okay.”
Suicide attempts
The actress says her depression and anxiety got so bad at one point that she tried taking her life.
“I’ve been fighting depression and anxiety all my life by ‘managing’ and ‘controlling’ it by simply blocking traumatic experiences I’ve encountered since I was a young girl.
“I attempted suicide twice in my life because… I just did not want to be here and feel this pain anymore.”
READ: 60% of calls to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group are made by women
Therapy sessions
Nobuhle says she started therapy this year and is feeling much better.
“I’m so happy and relieved I finally did because what I’ve been carrying all these years has been immensely draining.
“Therapy is not easy, I have to go back to that little girl that got hurt and heal her. I’m happy I decided to fight this. I’m not an expert but I’m learning and I’m on a journey of healing,” she wrote.
Main image credit: Instagram/#nobuhle1



