My name is Ani Obinna Factual. I am an actor/comedian and the producer of Factuals Comedy www.youtube.com/c/factualcomedy. This is my true life store to celebrate my birthday.

Let me begin by thanking God for adding another year to my years. I feel so so happy! But I’m about to tell you a story that I have never told anyone except my family and close friends who are first hand witnesses, and also stood by me during that trial time. This is the story of a depressed comedian. I am sharing this story not to mark my birth date, but to celebrate the fact that I am alive.
Please forgive any grammatical and spelling errors as I hope you will learn one or two things from my story.
It all started like a normal malaria, I went to hospital several times without any good results, I kept on changing hospital and my health was going down as each day passes by. Until one night that I a terrible sleep paralysis, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis that was when my world tuned upside down to a journey that lasted close to two years on a fight to save my life.
One night, I was lying down trying to fall asleep, when I discovered that I can’t move, for like two minutes, I was lying motionless on the bed, but my brain was very active. I tried to shout, no way, tried to stand up, ina! It was after like two minutes that I was able to stand up. But I discovered I was not breathing well (if not at all) my sister rushed me to the hospital where Doctor said it’s still malaria, after I have treated myself of malaria like 4 times from other hospitals ( God save us from the hands of quack doctors, no matter what’s wrong with you, they would always tag it malaria)

After treating me another round of malaria, the sickness continued. I struggle to sleep all night ( in fact I don’t sleep) I started to loose my breath occasionally, each time it happens I would be rushed to the hospital to have oxygen. After some times, the only way I sleep is to take some bottles of alcohol, I would sleep for like 4 hours and be awoken by sleep paralysis. My heart will be palpitating like trailer engine piston.
After some time, by body became resistant to the alcohol, the only way I can then sleep is with sleeping piles… this lasted for weeks and my body again became resistant to it. I lost hope, I felt like dying. Contemplated suicide because of the mental torture I was going through. I was always having this constant ache in my tommy and my legs will be boiling as if I am on fire. I graduated from taking sleeping tablets to take Anastacia to be able to fall asleep.

At this point the hospital that was treating me was getting tired of my case, the doctor was even calling some of his other doctor friends to know if they can understand what was wrong with. Because I had many tests but nothing was detected. The doctor now took me to general hospital. After an interview from a doctor at the general hospital, he asked me to go and do MRI scan (that’s brain Scan)
But before the MRI scan, there had been pressure from my family that what was wrong with me is not a medical issue, that it is spiritual, but truth be told, I am not a spiritual person, so I didn’t believe them. My sister has to visit a prophet on my behalf. She called and asked me who I lent me. That it was the person that was wrong with me. But honestly, I couldn’t remember lending anyone money. In fact, I didn’t lend anyone money. But I was dying gradually, I lost hope, the mental torture was unbearable, imagine being sick without knowing what is wrong with you. I now told myself that I will go for the MRI scan, and if nothing is detected, I will know that it is indeed spiritual.

I went for the MRI scan, and behold, nothing was detected, I now have to follow my family advice to go for spiritual healing. We went to one church, after some abracadabra, the pastor came up that it was one lady that I worked for that was wrong with me. It actually sounded like truth because I had issues with the said lady some months back and she threatened to deal with me. The pastor started his spiritual healing, did all kinds of disgusting things that I can’t write all here to me. (before you start saying why did I allow him do that to me, my brother, I was ready to take anything to stay alive) after he was done and I paid him some huge amount of money. I became OK. Yes, I became OK! Just when I was about going for my testimony, the illness surfaced, this time worse! My elder brother went to another spiritual house, and they told him it was someone I offended that was doing me. That I should call the person and apologize, I was reluctant at first, but in my quest to live, I started calling anyone I have had anything to do with to apologize. All of them were surprised, but I didn’t get to tell them why I was calling. After I did all that, nothing changed. My brother said he will take me to TB Joshua,
but I refused.

(don’t forget I’m still using Alcohol, Anastacia and crying to sleep; yes, when you cry from your heart you can fall asleep)
my aunty now suggested that we look for the solution through native spiritual way (native doctor) I travelled to one remote village in Enugu that I can’t remember the name (please don’t be fast to shout God forbid! I can only pray you would never be in my shoes, if you do, if it takes Satan to get your solution you gladly receive it) Now, come and see coincidence, Immediately I got to that village, that lady the pastor said was behind my predicament called me, for over seven months that we have not seen or spoken. She said Factual, where are you? you de village abi? OK. I need my job now. Because what happened was that I shot a Movie for her (I’m a Cinematographer, Director, Editor and Actor) and we had problems because of the movie. Now, after the call, it is now “confirmed” that she is behind my predicament.
As if that was not enough, in the night when we were about to sleep, bat entered the room, come see me de fight Jackie Chan with bat in the middle of the night after which I killed it. This again “confirmed” that someone is monitoring my movement. In the morning, when the native doctor wanted to start his own job, all I was waiting for was for him to say that it was a lady that was wrong with me before I will implement the evil I have planned for the lady. But unfortunately, the native doctor said it was a man, from my village. And believe me, I don’t have anyone living close to my house that has such time to go and prepare charm to harm anyone. But because of the hot soup I was inside, I have to believe. He did his own shall, after which he gave me some things to eat and some to put on my bed to ward off the “evil Spirit” anytime they came to attack.

I did as he said, and wolla, I became Ok. But that didn’t last long. This time nothing can make me sleep. I lost hope and love for life. I hated everyone and everything. I die and wake up several times each day. I thought of suicide. But the pain I would cause my family especially my mum wouldn’t let me take my life in order to rest in peace. I called my big sister that inform her of my decision not to sort for more solution, that I’m just existing for now, in case I “leave” any day, she should take heart.
Remember, While all these things were going on, I was still producing my comedies. www.youtube/c/factualcomedy people didn’t know the pains I was going through because it didn’t reflect on my body. I was looking “healthy and Happy” but dead inside. in fact, I shot a short comedy about what I was going through but I know no one decoded it. This is the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYIdgS2sCGs


I called my father that I can’t continue to live like this, that I have given up. He said no, that I shouldn’t give up, that there is one more place to try; neuropsychiatric hospital. I Travelled down to Enugu and to visit the hospital. When we go there I fell into hands of a Doctor who duped me and promised to treat me outside the hospital, I paid him 50,000 Naira and him gave me some drugs which truly eased me up for the first time in a long time. But I called him the following day and he said he travelled to the north and would be back in 3 days’ time. I have to go back to the hospital to follow the normal procedure. It was then that I was diagnosed with SEVERE DEPRESSION. I didn’t believe it at first because of my wrong understanding of what depression really mean.
I started treatment immediately. And today, I am a new person, even though I’m still depressed, but for two years now, I have been on antidepressant drug. I am a new creature. So, behind that big smiles, funny face, funky character lies a tiny burden that brings me down sometimes. But thank God not all the time. I have produced more than one hundred short comedies, I have performed in many shows and got people laughing and that has made me a fulfilled man.
Thanks for being patient to read this long piece, hope you learn somethings from it? But if you didn’t, here are things you should learn from my story.

1, before you conclude that someone is behind your problems, first seek medical help
2, depression is real, don’t be too fast to condemn people who love to keep to themselves
3, put a smile on your face no matter the situation
4, don’t be shy/ashamed to visit a neuropsychiatric hospital, it just like every other hospital

What a story. As someone who has battled illness I can relate with your story. I wish you more health and thank you for those you have made smile