Charlotte Mugabe is an author and mental health advocate from Botswana. She is the author of Living Beyond Anxiety, a self-published book documenting her personal journey through anxiety disorder. After studying journalism, driven by her passion for writing and storytelling, Charlotte transitioned into the banking sector, drawn by the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to engage with diverse people daily. What began as a seemingly ordinary birthday celebration in June 2023 became the moment her life changed forever, when she experienced her first panic attack without warning, setting her on a path she never anticipated.
In this episode, Dr Yemisi Akinbobola sits down with Charlotte to explore what it means to carry a mental health struggle in silence, especially for women working in high-pressure industries like media and banking. Charlotte shares how her anxiety disorder manifested physically as acid reflux, dizziness, and relentless panic attacks, leaving doctors unable to diagnose her for months. She describes the frustration of fighting an invisible enemy, experiencing up to four panic attacks a day, and waking each morning with dread, knowing she was entering a war zone she could not name. It was only after months of misdiagnosis and escalating symptoms that a psychiatrist finally explained what had been happening: her anxiety disorder had been manifesting in other illnesses, and her first panic attack at that birthday party was the beginning of a long and difficult journey.
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the workplace pressures that contributed to Charlotte's mental health crisis. She reflects on the culture of always having to show up, always appearing strong, and the lack of safe spaces in many work environments where women can unwind and offload the weight they carry. Charlotte explains how sweeping things under the rug, avoiding dealing with difficult emotions in the moment, and piling unresolved issues over time can eventually manifest as physical and mental illness. She urges women to seek help when they are going through something, rather than waiting until the burden becomes unbearable. She also addresses the stigma surrounding mental health in African societies, recounting the moment someone asked her if seeking help from a psychiatrist meant she was crazy, and how that question revealed the deep misunderstanding many people still have about mental health.
Charlotte also discusses her decision to write Living Beyond Anxiety, explaining that it began as a personal act of defiance and hope. She made a deliberate choice not to suffer in silence, but to turn her testimony into something that could help others walking the same path. She wrote the book in the tone she wished someone had used to speak to her during her darkest moments, soft, compassionate, and honest. Writing the book allowed her to relive her journey, but it also brought healing, as each line she wrote became a moment of leaving the pain behind and stepping into victory. Charlotte emphasizes that mental health is not a weakness, and that seeking professional help is the first and most important step toward recovery. She closes with a powerful message to women: you are not alone, recovery is possible, and it is okay to put yourself first.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: When Anxiety Took Hold Without Warning
00:01:37 Growing Up in Botswana: A Life of Constant Movement
00:03:11 From Journalism to Banking: The Shift to High-Pressure Work
00:04:52 June 3rd, 2023: The First Panic Attack
00:06:53 Misdiagnosis and Months of Suffering: When Doctors Couldn't Name It
00:09:03 How Anxiety Manifests: Understanding the Physical Symptoms
00:12:04 AWIM26 Conference Announcement: Powering Women's Leadership
00:13:29 Workplace Pressure and the Culture of Silence
00:17:14 The Decision to Write: Turning Pain Into Purpose
00:20:17 Does That Mean You're Crazy?: Confronting Mental Health Stigma
00:23:11 Writing as Healing: Reliving to Let Go
00:25:22 A Call to Media: Opening Conversations Without Stigma
00:26:44 Living Beyond Anxiety: A Message of Hope and Recovery
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