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After Deepika Padukone, Shaheen Bhatt also spoke about her battle with depression. Is only speaking about it enough or is it high time we took some action?
I recently read an article in the newspaper about Shaheen Bhatt and her book, I’ve Never been (un) Happier. The book she wrote about her depression.
There are several other celebrities who spoke of depression- Deepika Padukone and Anushka to name a few. Depression, is no longer a taboo- thanks to all these celebrities who came forward and spoke about it.
I remember when we were younger, and didn’t know the ‘F’ word and the likes, the most common abuse was, ‘paagal‘ and ”mental hai kya?’ We dare not say these anymore. Now they are more likely to hurt people than any cuss words that almost everyone uses, every where, all the time.
However, on a serious note, I hope people take a cue from celebrities to come out and seek help. Especially if they feel that they face any of the symptoms that they (the celebrities) have mentioned.
Twenty years ago, we knew of actors who lost their lives when they had everything going for them. We also knew actors who lost all the fame because they turned to alcoholism. And we also knew of actors who killed themselves due to unrequited love.
We knew they had problems but never attributed it to depression. What we did think was that fame came with a lot of issues, especially in the film industry.
But as years passed we thought things changed. When Deepika (the most successful actor of her times) said that there were days when she found it difficult to even get up, that she didn’t understand why she felt low despite the awards she got, she knew something was wrong. She addressed the issue.
At the same time, it took a little longer for Shaheen to understand that she was suffering from depression.
We applaud these celebrities when they seek help as they realise what they were feeling was not physical. And we also applaud them for understanding that it has nothing to do with not doing well in life and speaking about it. We are grateful to them for speaking about it.
But in reality, how many of us will actually attribute our illness to depression. We will try to find reasons for their illness, take them to all kinds of specialists but we will never take them to a therapist. Even if by a remote chance, we know that it is depression, we’ll convince ourselves and every one around us that time only will heal it.
Most times, we also would not want to spend money and time on something which we feel has no cure. Yes, a very high percentage of people in our country can’t afford doctors for physical ailments so they will never even think of treatment for depression.
All these celebrities who come out and tell us about their cancer and their healing process, got themselves treated outside India. I feel it is depressing for the patient and the family to know that they could have got a better treatment if they had money.
It would be helpful if these celebrities do something to help people. Maybe, set up free consultation for depression or provide affordable treatment for cancer instead of just talking about it.
Yes, depression is no longer a taboo because Deepika spoke about it. But I also worry that the fanatics, and the crazy movie buffs, who won’t just call themselves depressed because their favourite actor spoke about it.
It is really brave on their part to share their stories but we should really think of how much this will help us.
Please do let me know about your thought in the comments section.
Picture credits: YouTube
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Darlings makes some excellent points about domestic violence . For such a movie to not follow through with a resolution that won't be problematic, is disappointing.
I watched Darlings last weekend, staying on top of its release on Netflix. It was a long-awaited respite from the recent flicks. I wanted badly to jump into its praise and will praise it, for something has to be said for the powerhouse performances it is packed with. But I will not be able to in a way that I really had wanted to.
I wanted to say that this is a must-watch on domestic violence that I stand behind and a needed and nuanced social portrayal. But unfortunately, I can’t. For I found Darlings to be deeply problematic when it comes to the portrayal of domestic violence and how that should be dealt with.
Before we rush to the ‘you must be having a problem because a man was hit’ or ‘much worse happens to women’ conclusions, that is not what my issue is. I have seen the praises and criticisms, and the criticisms of criticisms. I know, from having had close associations with non-profits and activists who fight domestic violence not just in India but globally, that much worse happens to women. I have written a book with case studies and statistics on that. Neither do I have any moral qualms around violence getting tackled with violence (that will be another post some day).
Gender stereotypes, though a by-product of the patriarchal society that we have always lived in, are now so intricately woven into our conditioning that despite our progressive thinking, we are unable to break free from them.
Repeatedly crossing, while on my morning walk ̶ a sticky, vine-coloured patch on the walkway, painted by jamuns that have fallen from the jamun tree, crushed by the impact of their fall, and perhaps, inadvertently trampled upon by walkers, awakens memories of the mulberry tree that stood in my parents’ house when I was growing up. Right at the entrance of the house, the tree caused a similar red and violet chaos on the floor, which greeted us each time we entered the gate.
Today, as I walked by this red-violet patch, I was reminded of an incident that my mother had narrated to me several times. It had taken place shortly after her marriage and her arrival in this house from her hometown.