“Ye depression and all kuch nahi hota!”
We’ve all heard this line far too many times. Mental health has always been stigmatized in India. According to a recent study by GOQii, 43% Indians have been suffering from depression since the COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown. Considering the taboo around mental illness, a large number of people hesitate to seek help due to the fear of being called crazy. In fact, people hesitate to open up about their mental illness for the same very reason.
There is a dire need to normalize conversations about mental health across India. And celebs like Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Ileana D’Cruz, and several others have done this by taking the initiative to speak up about their mental health issues.
Just recently, Bigg Boss 14 contestant Eijaz Khan spoke up about his own mental health struggles and seeking therapy. And now, the winner of the reality show, Rubina Dilaik has opened up about her mental health issues.
During Bigg Boss 14, the actress had revealed to Salman Khan that she battled depression nine years ago. She had also shared that she had suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Now the outspoken Chhoti Bahu of the TV industry has got the conversation going once again, with her recent interview.
Speaking up about her battle with mental illness, Rubina shared that she was ‘unstable, over-ambitious and insecure’. Adding that she did not know how to balance her professional and personal life, the actress said, “Away from family, too much into work that did not give me time to make friends. In that situation, you just isolate yourself from the possibility of leading a happy, fulfilled life. That creates a lack of empathy towards yourself.”
Talking about the stigma around mental health, Rubina said she could not figure out what was wrong with her as no one really talked about it. She shared that depression not only made her feel lonely and irritable but it also made her question herself. “You just don’t feel like attracting new people, you want to sleep all day, you would be irritable. And that is when you realize you want to give up on yourself, give up on life,” said the Bigg Boss 14 winner.
She further added, “You start thinking ‘why am I irritable, why is there no one around me. Why can I not achieve success’. Too many questions and no answers. There I realized that the problem is somewhere within. There is a lot that I cannot understand, but there is also nobody to guide me.”
Opening up about how she battled the illness, Rubina shared that nine years ago, even going to a psychologist was taboo. The Shakti actress revealed that she had to turn to self-help books and audiotapes to find a way out. Rubina further added that she had to read up online to understand what was happening to her. She shared that it was when she found yoga and meditation that things got better for her.
While mental health still remains a taboo in India, our celebs have broken the silence around it and got the conversation going. If it wasn’t for people like Rubina, a large number of people would still shy away from seeking professional help. We’re so proud of you, girl!
Feature Image: Instagram
