Ugandan singer Ykee Benda has opened up about a difficult period in his life, revealing how a custody battle over his son pushed him into serious stress and depression.
The “vibe king” said the situation lasted over two years, even as he kept up a happy public image.
You all should not play with carrying too much stress for too long. About two and a half years ago, I was depressed for the longest time after a custody battle for my son. I tried to do right by the young man, but everything just fell on deaf ears.
He explained that the pressure took a heavy toll on him emotionally, admitting he cried for months despite being known for his positivity.
Nothing ever took my joy away until that young man came into my life… I had never cried for anyone before, but I cried for months for him.
Behind the scenes, his condition worsened. He struggled with sleep, anxiety, and chose to keep everything to himself.
Nobody could tell because I am the vibe king. I stopped talking about it because I figured nobody even had a solution. I could not sleep for a full year… you are awake with nothing on your mind except the lack of peace.
Things escalated when he learned his child had left the country without his knowledge, a moment that pushed his stress even further.
That led him to seek medical help, where doctors warned him about the dangers of prolonged stress.
A doctor told me I could die if I did not work on my stress levels, and that it all had to begin with acceptance. I freaked out, that was my wake-up call.
From that point, he began focusing on himself and slowly started to recover.
I started working on myself and choosing myself. It has taken me about 15 months to feel alive again… even during my own function, I was just surviving.
In the end, he chose peace over the fight and stepped back from the situation.
I let the boy go because I think that is the only thing that would give his mother peace. Please manage your stress. Do not carry it for too long, it can destroy you.