Alia Bhatt’s sister Shaheen Bhatt talks about living with depression since she was 13

Remember Deepika Padukone‘s brave confession about being in depression and combating it? Considering that we live in a country where mental illness is still considered a taboo, that’s the best thing a public figure can do.

This time, it is Alia Bhatt’s elder sister Shaheen Bhatt who took to Instagram and shared how she has been living with depression since she was as young as 13. However, quite unusually, she does not term it as a struggle.

“I’ve lived with depression on and off since I was about 13 years old. This is not a revelation or a confession. Those who know me know this about me. It’s not something I take any pains to hide, I’m not ashamed of it or particularly troubled by it. It’s just a part of who I am. I have days where I feel good and then I have days where I don’t. One minute everything’s fine and the next it’s like someone turned the light off inside my head,” she writes.

I’ve lived with depression on and off since I was about 13 years old. This is not a revelation or a confession. Those who know me know this about me. It’s not something I take any pains to hide, I’m not ashamed of it or particularly troubled by it. It’s just a part of who I am. I have days where I feel good and then I have days where I don’t. One minute everything’s fine and the next it’s like someone turned the light off inside my head. I go quiet and it’s difficult to get out of bed. Like it always does the world around me loses focus and I struggle to make sense of it. Sometimes these bouts last an hour – sometimes they last days. Today, I’m on day 4. I say I live with depression rather than I struggle with it because for me (and I speak only for myself here) I don’t see why it has to be a struggle. I once read an idea by an American essayist called Richard Mitchell which stayed with me; it’s now become how I try to approach the dips in my week or month. The idea is this: To be sick, or to suffer, is inevitable. But to become bitter and vindictive in sickness and suffering and to surrender to irrationality, supposing yourself the innocent and virtuous victim of the evils intentions of the world, is not inevitable. The appropriate answer to the question – Why me? is the other question – Why not me? *** Why am I writing about this? Well, I spend a fair amount of time on social media during the course of my day and today I found myself looking for something to post because it’s been a few days since I’ve posted anything. I couldn’t find anything so I figured I’d just talk about this – how I’m doing, instead of what I’m doing. It’s as simple as that, and we could all stand to do a little more of it. P.S. That picture just seemed to work in this context.

A photo posted by Shaheen Bhatt (@shaheenb) on Nov 23, 2016 at 12:18am PST

‘Sometimes these bouts last an hour – sometimes they last days.
Today, I’m on day 4.
I say I live with depression rather than I struggle with it because for me (and I speak only for myself here) I don’t see why it has to be a struggle,” she adds.

Also Read: Sister Goals! Pooja Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt wish Alia Bhatt in the most adorable ways

While it was brave of her to openly admit that she has been in depression, we aren’t sure if staying with depression for years and not considering it a problem is a healthy idea. Just because we lack the right approach to it and do not discuss how to cope with mental illness, depression, anxiety are on a rise.

However, may Shaheen have more of the bright days too!

Want some exciting deals on online shopping? Here’s what you have to do.

Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.