These days, it’s no longer surprising when people suddenly change and withdraw from the people they once cared for. It shows how sad their life’s reality has made them and it’s only fair that we empathize with them and help through their struggles.

While it’s easy to know when people are sad through their emotional outbursts, there are still some people who have mastered the art of hiding their pains and going about with their cheerful disposition.

If you want to be an emotional support to such persons, you must also learn the subtle signs that show off this sadness, because understanding the signs could make a world of difference for them.

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1. They’re always fine

Emotions are a rollercoaster.

One minute, they’re soaring high with joy, the next, they’re plummeting into the depths of sadness. Some people never give a clue they’re experiencing sadness. No matter what happens, their response remain “I’m fine” or “everything’s good.”

While this may seem like a good thing, psychologists consider it a red flag for hidden unhappiness. When someone’s always telling you they’re fine, there’s a significant chance they’re suppressing feelings of despair, unhappiness, or something deeper.

Be that person that will look deeper than their answer. You just may see something no one sees. 

2. Their laughter seems forced

We’ve all been there – moments when we struggle to be the fun-loving people we used to be. At such moments, our laughter seems hollow, like an echo bouncing off a cancerous wall. But the good thing is that we always shake it off with time and move on like nothing happened.

However, when that one friend makes this a repeated pattern, it becomes another subtle sign of deep-seated unhappiness. So, the next time your friend laughs half-heartedly, pay attention to the laughter. It could be telling you something deeper than many other people know. 

3. They stay busy to avoid being alone with their thoughts

We’ve seen this scenario play out too often – people convincing themselves that they’re busy because they simply like productivity. But for many sad people, it’s not just about productivity. It is their way of avoiding silence and the thoughts that accompany it.

If your friend is always moving or always busy, there’s a significant possibility they’re trying to escape sitting with their feelings. 

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4. They always check in on others

You’d think that a person struggling with their sadness will be so caught up in it that they’ll forget to worry about others. But that’s not always the case. Deeply unhappy people tend to be the first to check up on friends and associates.

They remember birthdays, notice when something seems off about someone, and check in to be sure they’re fine. It doesn’t take away anything from the genuineness of their kindness; just that they see it as a better way to run away from their feelings. 

4. They downplay their achievements

If you have a friend that constantly downplays their achievements and accomplishments, chances are they’re trying to hide their sadness. It’s often because of their deep struggle to see their self-worth.

So, even when they put in the work to achieve something meaningful, they tend to convince themselves their best isn’t good enough because their sadness is already causing self-doubt. 

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Over the past few years, one of the biggest trends in Nigeria remains the ‘japa’ trend. Many dream of leaving Nigeria for other climes where they can enjoy life’s benefits otherwise unavailable here.

While most Nigerians will jump on any opportunity to japa, not everyone considers the implications that comes with it. Don’t get it twisted, traveling abroad is such a beautiful thing and I think everyone should experience it. But like everything good, it comes with its challenges, especially in the first few weeks.

Here, in this article, I’ll try to review six of the most popular challenges most Nigerians face during their first few weeks abroad. A prior knowledge of these challenges can help you navigate them when you finally decide to move. 

1. The Weather change phenomenon

Nothing they say can kill an African man, well except weather. Once you land in your dream country, one of the first things that will greet you is an entirely different weather from what you’re used to.

Imagine landing in Europe in the extremely cold months of winter. You’d definitely want to run back because the cold is nothing like you’ve ever experienced in Nigeria. 

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2. Adapting to new prices

You’re definitely used to taxi fares and road side food prices in Nigeria. Imagine moving to somewhere where these things are far more expensive.

It’ll have you missing home really quickly. But don’t worry, you’ll soon get used to the new prices in a few weeks and you’ll be the one advising other newcomers. 

3. Diet change commotion

While in Nigeria, you’re used to walking into any roadside buka to order amala and egufe or any Nigerian food of your choice. But hey, you’re a completely new terrain now and there’s no road side bukas like you’re used to.

It might take a while to get used to popular “oyibo” foods and restaurants, but you definitely will. 

4. Constant electricity

This one’s not supposed to be a challenge, but considering where you’re coming from, it is. We’re not used to constant electricity in Nigeria, and that’s a fact.

Imagine the hike in electricity bill when you suddenly begin to enjoy 24 hours electricity. Trust me, most flatmates will not care that you just arrived, so get ready to be paying extremely high fees for energy from your first week abroad. 

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5. Getting used to the quiet lifestyle

I mean, we’re all used to the fast life, especially if you live in Lagos; jumping on and off moving buses, evading street touts, etc. Now imagine the stare you’ll get if you forget you try to pull any of these stunts abroad. Trust me, irrespective of how composed you want to be, you’ll definitely forget you’re no longer in Nigeria at some point. 

6. The Nigeria slang comedy

This is one show we often see Nigerians put up during their first few weeks abroad. Imagine a Nigerian screening “conductor owa” at the top of their voice when a train reaches their designated stop. The stare and embarrassment when it finally clocks that you’ve “messed up!” 

Don’t be embarrassed when you begin to face these struggles. Many other Nigerians have been there. Don’t worry, you’ll get around it after a few weeks and you’ll look back and laugh at how uncomfortable they made you feel. 

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Growing up in Nigeria, people’s demeaning disposition to learning a skill (handiwork) is very clear. Folks often underrate it because they either believe it’s too tedious or it translates to dirty work.

Unfortunately, they fail to see the glaring benefit of having hand work – it is a cash farm. Statistics even show that most hand workers make more money than salary earners.

So, while you’re eagerly waiting to get your salary at the end of the month, a hand worker might have raked in twice your salary within the week.

But then comes the question; what are the most profitable handworks in Nigeria? Let’s go! 

1. Fashion designing

The fashion industry is big and has continued to grow over time. If you’re skilled enough, you’ll have customers begging you to make the latest designs for them. I remember my friend dumping a very lucrative salary work to go full-time into fashion designing, and he’s never regretted his decision since then. 

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2. Carpentry

Looks like dirty work, right? Well, wait until you know just how much you can make from designing one furniture. Now multiply that amount by the number of furniture you can make in a month and you can tell why many carpenters are ballers by the night. 

3. Hairdressing/barbing

Making 500 – 1000 from barbing each person doesn’t seem like a lot and that’s why people underrate this work. But a good barber will cut the hair of an average of 20 people every day. Same goes for hairdressers. So, next time you see anybody in this line, give them the respect they deserve. 

4. Phone/laptop repair

With the increased use of smartphone over the past few years, comes a new market in the phone repair niche. If you can learn and master how to fix phones and laptops, you’ll definitely be making so much money from this. 

5. Auto Mechanic

Auto mechanics are one of the most underrated handworks in Nigeria. You’ll be surprised by the amount mechanics make from each repair. These mechanics may look pretty dirty in their work overall, but it’s definitely worth it, if you look at their paycheck. 

ALSO READ: 10 lucrative side gigs Nigerian youths can explore in 2025

6. Electrician/House wiring

With electrical engineering ranking high as one of the most studied courses in Nigeria, you can tell that it’ll be a very lucrative skill. There’s no limit to the aspects of these skills you can learn, same way there’s no limit to the money you can earn. 

7. Tiler

This skill is not as saturated as other vocational skills, so there are high chances of making more money in it. A contract of tiling a story building can change your financial status. If you’d love a skill that generates you steady income, you may want to consider this area. 

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