To recognise postpartum depression and seek help or therapy in any way is a huge step towards wellness. Here are a few actresses who have openly talked about PPD and ways to combat it.
Motherhood is a beautiful experience, but it also comes with its own set of lows. A woman goes through a total shift where not only her body but also her entire mental and emotional wellbeing goes through a change which can be very overwhelming to handle. While embracing motherhood is a beautiful feeling, it can also be very daunting and anxious, which is why most women suffer from postpartum depression after childbirth.
Mental health vows after childbirth are quite normal, and now, more and more people are talking about them. However, not many women openly talk about postpartum depression in the fear of being judged by the overtly scrutinising society. Fortunately, these days, several celebrities have bravely spoken about PPD and talked about ways to overcome it.
Also Read: Nitin Gadkari's Weight Loss Journey: Once Weighed 135 Kg, Lost 50 Kgs With Diet, Pranayam And More
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor became proud parents of their daughter, Raha, in 2022. However, after stepping into this new phase of her life, Alia started to feel mom guilt and experienced anxiety, for which she started therapy. Alia revealed that every week, she goes for therapy and discusses issues with her therapist, which has immensely helped her to evolve and grow. In Alia's words:
"I work hard on my mental health - I go to therapy every week where I voice these fears. And it helps me understand that this is not something that I will be able to figure out on day one or five or even ten; it's an ever-evolving, ever-growing process. You have to be able to pick up the pieces of yourself and build a new every day. There's nothing like, 'Oh, I've got it together… I'm coping excellently… I have all the answers.' No one has all the answers."
Rubina Dilaik and her husband, Abhinav Shukla, welcomed twin daughters, Jeeva and Edhaa, on 27 November 2023. Rubina has prioritised their little ones' wellbeing above everything else. Rubina hosts a show, Kisine Bataya Nehi, where she invites celebrity moms, and they discuss issues pertaining to motherhood. In one of her episodes, Rubina revealed that one night, she had a major breakdown and lashed out at her child mid-feed. After this episode, she realised that this was not normal and soon started counselling.
Suggested Read: Janhvi Kapoor's Diet Decoded, From 16:8 Intermittent Fasting To Having Korean Food On Cheat Days
Famous social media sensation, Avantika Mohan suffered from a dark episode after the birth of her daughter, Rayna. The diva shared that when she was 19, she suffered from depression and even took therapy and after her daughter Rayna's birth she experienced something similar. As per her, she faced prolonged sadness, which was PPD, but at that time, she was too ashamed to seek help. In her words:
"I was diagnosed with depression when I was 19 and was medicated for it. I was fine for a really long time, but when I got pregnant, I started to suffer from depression again; that's what it felt like at the time. My mother thought it very absurd that I was behaving like this; she kept telling me I should feel blessed, that it was wrong for me to feel this way. And I couldn't explain what I felt like. There was the happiness, of course, but there was an overwhelming sadness that loomed over me like a never-ending dark cloud. I didn't take any treatment. I should have but I guess I was too confused and a bit ashamed, but I got better over time."
Popular television actress, Shweta Kawaatra embraced motherhood in 2012 when she welcomed her daughter, Zahra into the world. The actress in a media interaction shared that the first year after embracing motherhood was very challenging for her especially because she lived in a nuclear family and all the responsibilities were on her now. She suffered from postpartum depression, and to combat that, she took spiritual guidance and used to chant mantras. Shweta further added:
"My journey as a mother has been really beautiful, however, I too went through postpartum depression in the first year. The first year of motherhood was very tough; and especially for those of us in nuclear families, this issue is graver, since the responsibility cannot be shared. Practising Buddhism helped me a lot; I would chant whenever I felt I needed strength. I was able to elevate my own life conditions and balance everything at one time and be happy."
Don't Miss: Mukesh Ambani's Diet And Fitness: Billionaire Lost 15 Kgs Without Any Workout By Eating These Things
Bollywood actress, Sameera Reddy slipped into depression after her first pregnancy and delivery. She not only gained weight but also lost all her confidence, which is why she took a hiatus from the entertainment industry. Later, via her Instagram posts, Sameera shared her PPD struggles with her fans and encouraged every mother to take care of their mental health and to prioritise themselves.
Diya Aur Baati Hum actress, Deepika Singh embraced parenthood with her husband, Rohit Raj Goyal, in 2017 as they welcomed their son, Soham, into their lives. During her postpartum, Deepika was always irritated and was constantly low on energy. Seeing her plight, her spiritual guruji diagnosed her postpartum depression and guided her through it. Talking about the phase, Deepika explained:
“Everything comes back” that my Guruji #sanatanchakarvarty told me during my postpartum days when I was suffering from low energy levels, sore back, low self-esteem, furious about how to take care of baby and myself, how to be regular for the workout. But this line gave me a huge motivation, maybe to you as well.”
A lot of other celebrities suffered from postpartum depression, but only a few broke the stigma and sought help in some way or the other. We urge all mothers out there to prioritise themselves and seek help if needed.
Next Read: Randeep Hooda Loses 26 Kgs For 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' With Sister's Help, Here's His Diet Plan