An Open Letter To President Buhari From A Concerned Psychologist: Remember To Preserve Your Health
Let history be the judge if Goodluck Jonathan was the worst democratic president in Nigeria since independence. What is clear and real is that Muhammadu Buhari is taking office and presiding over a nation that in the last five years has experienced the worst governing culture in terms of governance and leadership.
Mr. President, in your advanced years, you hold one of the most stressful leadership jobs in regards to Nigeria, a huge nation with any number of multifarious and intertwined social, political and economic challenges.
We remain a nation with a high-stress environment, politically, institutionally, ethnically and security-wise and being the President at this time in our national history only increases the demands of the job.
There is certainly no doubt that you are joyful in being the President as your heart is so sweet and full of love for the people. Yet, there is a cost to this role which you are already familiar with, given the past military-based presidential role in your much younger years.
As a 21st century President, you will most likely face persistent and relentless stress. Nothing is likely to happen right away or be physically visible instantly, but inside your body, like most humans, there will be slow, intermittent or perhaps even sudden changes in and between one’s internal organs and hormones.
Call it presidential stress or executive strain if you like and stress affects the physique, especially when it becomes recurrently exposed to various levels of internal strains, thinning, weakening, wasting and failings.
Mr. President, as with most high-stress jobs, gradual changes in one’s hair and skin will occur, weakness of the immune system drags in, weak bones crawl in , and transmittable viruses which cause colds become noticeable. In some cases, the effects of stress on the body lead to intestinal wounds, pneumonia, heart attack, and stroke, including sudden or slow death.
As with most high-stress jobs, one’s sleep sometimes turns rough, cognition slows down, concentrating becomes slow, and depression, as in reflective emotional pain, can set in.
Mr. President every form of executive stress on the body and mind has its sources and these could include uncountable handshakes, planned and unplanned travels, soft and hard news, welcome and instant visits, and the sense that someone always needs something from the President at every moment of every day.
In my 20 years of working in the area of preventive and clinical psychology, especially in regards to one’s overall physical functioning, I wish I could point to a one-size-fits-all cure to presidential stress; sorry to say, there is none.
On the positive side, on the basis of scientific psychology in terms of nourishing the body, mind and spirit, there are things you can do, like submitting yourself to a physical test often. I would like to recommend that you remain under continuous medical lookout, have a competent military physician on hand wherever you are, and find an exercise regimen you like and stick to it, which could include 30-minute workouts, weight training of the arms and legs, engaging in short fast walks, throwing footballs with grandchildren and partaking in other enjoyable healthy exercises.
Mr. President, no matter how busy your schedule is, have a daily exercise regimen, since good exercise results in better thinking, better blood flow, and a lively spirit. Behaviors such as suppressing stress through drinking and smoking are no-no.
President Buhari, other fundamental ways to build your resistance to presidential stress include listening to beautiful music, having a good laugh, eating good food (but no late eating or night food) and drinking good water. Also very important is taking time for family, investing in time for intimacy and taking planned or unplanned vacations within and outside the country.
Mr. President, remember always that at times executive stress can seen overwhelming; at such times it is good to pray, as it helps bring peace of mind, relieves stress, results in clarity of thinking and provides total guidance always.
Mr. President, no matter what you do or where you are, remember always to take a long view when looking at what appears to be currently changeless and in a terrible crisis. Do not panic, as panic always results in the depletion of the body, mind and spirit.
Mr. President, we are living at a time when the question of age is no longer important as long as good health is pursued which then leads to increased life expectancy. Mr. Buhari, in addition to the tips given here for your awareness and practice , it is essential that you always remind yourself that everything, including your overall well-being, is in God’s hands. Sir, as you well know we live on a day-by-day future and it is my optimal wish that yours will be marked with an exceptionally long life—the nation needs you more than ever.
Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi is a Florida-based Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, a specialist in Prison/Police/Social Security matters and a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. [email protected] , drjohneoshodi.com