LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — How can you manage stress effectively?

In Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous city, many are discovering a unique way to relieve stress in a “rage room.” Here, individuals pay to break electronics and furniture with a sledgehammer, providing a much-needed escape from the severe cost-of-living crisis affecting the country.

The Shadow Rage Room, touted as Nigeria’s first of its kind, aims to provide “a safe space” for people to express their pent-up feelings, as explained by Dr. James Babajide Banjoko, the founder and a physician. The concept emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a time when Banjoko faced personal loss and professional challenges.

For 7,500 naira (approximately $5), customers can spend 30 minutes in a private room equipped with protective gear and a sledgehammer or bat, smashing items that will later be recycled.

Life is challenging in Nigeria, where over 200 million people live. Frustration among the youth has sparked recent mass protests, which tragically saw several individuals killed by security forces. The nation is grappling with an inflation rate that has soared to a 28-year high of 33.4%, while the value of the naira has plummeted against the dollar.

Access to mental health services is limited for many in Africa’s most populous country, where an estimated 40% of the population survives on less than $2 a day.

There are fewer than 400 registered psychologists in Nigeria, according to the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists, translating to roughly one psychologist for every half a million people.

Even when therapy is available, stigma around mental health remains a significant barrier, as noted by NACP president Gboyega Emmanuel Abikoye in a recent interview.

While rage rooms are not a new concept globally, their psychological benefits are largely unverified. Abikoye pointed out that any relief from such activities tends to be temporary and does not substitute for genuine therapeutic support.

In Nigeria, there is an increasing demand for long-term emotional assistance, particularly among the youth.

In the bustling city of Lagos, home to around 20 million residents, the need for such support is even more urgent. Daily challenges include traffic jams that can leave drivers and passengers stuck for hours in one of the world’s most polluted cities.

Some individuals have turned to social media platforms like TikTok as a means to cope with stress. Others seek support in their communities, whether through religious gatherings or fitness activities.

The rage room is open on weekends and often fully booked up to two weeks in advance, according to Banjoko.

After a session of smashing items, Olaribigbe Akeem, a recent visitor, emerged visibly relieved and happy. “As an average Nigerian, you face a lot every day,” Akeem shared. “The anger builds up, and instead of taking it out on someone, this place helps me feel renewed.”

Visitors to the rage room also include couples looking to release their frustrations together.

Sometimes, people enter thinking it’s just for fun but leave with deeper emotional revelations. “My favorite customers are those who come in just to try it out, and by the end, they often break down and cry, becoming very expressive,” Banjoko noted. He frequently recommends them for therapy afterward.

Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, a psychiatrist based in Lagos, cautioned that while smashing objects may provide a fleeting sense of relief, it cannot replace professional therapy. She expressed concern that engaging in such activities might discourage the use of healthier coping mechanisms and could potentially reinforce aggressive behaviors.

Some customers admitted that their troubles feel lighter only until they step back into their everyday lives.

However, being vulnerable and expressing emotions in the rage room is valuable, according to Eka Stephanie Paul, an actress and TV host. “Problems never truly go away,” she reflected in Nigerian pidgin. “But for now, I feel much lighter.”

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Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria.

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For more updates on Africa and development, visit Africa Pulse.

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