Sheeba Akashdeep On World Mental Health Day: Our Industry, With Its Ups And Downs, Including Joblessness And Body Shaming, Can Trigger Extreme Depression, Anxiety

“Mental health, to me, means remaining calm, composed, and collected in any and every kind of situation. Extreme emotions can be detrimental to your mental health. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the importance of their mental well-being. They may work out in the gym but fail to realize that anxiety is building up in their minds. For this, they need to practice breath control, which can trigger a calming response in the mind,” she says.

On what she thinks is important for good mental health, Sheeba adds, “Pranayama is important for maintaining mental balance. Having positive thoughts is equally important, and staying away from negative influences is crucial. Taking care of your well-being is essential because when you are well, you can take care of others. It's like putting on your oxygen mask first before helping others, especially for women. They should prioritize taking control of their mental health before caring for everyone else.”

Ask if she thinks people from the entertainment industry are generally targeted when it comes to depression and anxiety and the actor shares her opinion, “Our industry, with its ups and downs, including joblessness and body shaming, can trigger extreme depression and anxiety. Being constantly in the public eye makes us more susceptible to external influences. Just one negative comment from a troll can significantly impact your state of mind. Today, even young individuals on social media face similar challenges as everything revolves around their online lives.”

So, what do you do on days when you feel low? “When I feel low, I practice deep breathing and listen to uplifting music to cope with it. Having a close-knit friend circle is like having a personal therapist. Expressing what's inside you instead of bottling it up makes me feel better. Seeing my family, pets, and staff healthy and happy brings me contentment. Balancing a busy work life with contentment in personal relationships makes me happy,” she ends.