The actor-radio presenter shares three ways to deal with depression via a video clip on social media.
In light of the recent demise of model Anam Tanoli, who ended her life, allegedly due to being constantly bullied and judged, multiple celebrities have come to the fore to speak about depression and cyber bullying. Some of them include Mawra Hocane, who said that “it is about time we treat depression as an illness so we can comfort the ones suffering”, while Momina Mustehsan, who has been through depression, feels that “mental health is just as important as physical health”.
Most recently, actor-radio presenter Khalid Malik took to social media and spoke about depression via a video clip. He admitted that he has faced depression and also had a message for those who face the same.
“Depression can be a very dark space; I have been there,” he confessed, adding that he had a panic attack in 2004 while he was in office and felt he was going to die. However, he eventually sought help.
“Today, if you are in this dark space, whether you call it depression, anxiety, or whatever disorder, I can tell you three things to help you,” he continued.
“1) Talk. Talk to a friend, please. Talking to family can be tough. Or talk to a therapist. If you can’t talk, write it down on some paper, you need to let it out. 2) Look at the people around you. Are you surrounded by people who love you? Who are positive? If people around you are reinforcing what you are thinking then you need to have a new bunch of friends. 3) Be a part of a social club; sports-related, yoga, gym, or something as trivial as a book club – something that’s bigger than you.”
Towards the end, the artist emphasized on getting up and doing something instead of judging one’s self and wondering if ‘I am enough’.
He also said that fighting with it doesn’t mean it won’t hit back but the next time, one would be better prepared to deal with it rather than letting it affect them.
People think that celebrities don’t have a personal life and negativity around them doesn’t affect them the way it affects a non-celebrity.
They pass negative remarks and judge them without considering the impact it has on the recipient, who may end up taking their lives. And depression is a serious illness that needs to be tackled rather than ignored. This is what we, as a society, need to realize.
