Celebrated singer Esther Akoth, better known as Akothee has, in a word of advice to fans urged them to find peace even when alone.
Taking to her Instagram account, the Oyoyo singer posted a throwback photo that she said is from 2018, reflecting on it as a difficult time in her life.
“You might think you need a lot of people around you to make your work easy, but then this is digging a hole in your brain,” Akothee wrote.
“This is me in 2018. They sucked all my intestines. From employees to people close to me. I was the one on the receiving end. Never again.”
The musician then said that she had to make major changes in her life to find herself in a better place mentally. They included self-examination and a keen assessment of the people she kept close to her at the time.
“If I am financially stuck today, will these people come to my aid, or they will tear me apart, tell everyone how they have supported me during my down moments? Do you have people who can for real die for you?” she posed.
The singer then told her 3.2 million followers to be “selfish and take care of themselves.”
“Do not be afraid of being alone even without family. You are better off with strangers than having people around you that drain, and drink you to the grave.”
“No one will take care of you the way you want. You must set standards for yourself first.”
The 39-year-old singer has not been shy about speaking out about her mental health in the past, often thinking back about how she has overcome tough times.
She aired her thoughts about mental illness in a lengthy Instagram post in April, writing that, among other factors, the people that surround someone can be a trigger.
“Your environment can easily activate mental health, the people you relate with and even your relationship. The feeling of uncertainty, not sure of what next and what to expect, may drive you into sleepless nights and excessive tiredness.”
