After Deepika Padukone, Dangal actress Zaira Wasim reveals her struggle with depression

After Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, Zaira Wasim, who is known for appearing in films like Dangal and Secret Superstar, has opened up about her struggle with anxiety and depression.

In a Facebook post, Zaira shares that she has been suffering from the illness for the last four years. In these challenging times, she experienced “unexplained fatigue, body ache, self-loathing, nervous breakdowns, suicidal thoughts”. In her note, the 17-year-old actress wrote how she was 'corrected' every time by peers that she wasn’t suffering from depression because the general notion is that it happens only to people above 25 years.

In the social post, Zaira also said that she witnessed panic attacks between the age of 12 and 14. The condition was so worse that she had lost the counts of panic attacks and the number of medicines she had to have to overcome it.

This is what Zaira wrote on her Facebook page:

“I’m writing this to (finally) admit and confess that I, for a very long time have been suffering from severe anxiety and depression.

It’s almost been 4 years and I’ve always been embarrassed and scared to admit it not only because of the stigma that goes around with the word DEPRESSION with it but most importantly because of always being told that *You’re too young to be depressed* or *It’s just a phase*

Perhaps it could’ve been *JUST A PHASE* but this awful phase has put me in situations I never wished or chose to be in. Popping 5 antidepressants everyday, anxiety attacks, being rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night, feeling empty, restless, anxious, hallucinations, having sore limbs from sleeping too much to not being able to sleep for weeks, from overeating to starving myself, unexplained fatigue, body ache, self loathing, nervous breakdowns, suicidal thoughts were all parts of this PHASE.

I knew that something wasn’t right with me, I sensed it could be DEPRESSION. I still remember my first panic attack at the age of 12, the other one at 14 and now all I remember is losing count of the number of panic attacks, losing counts of the number of medicines I’ve had and I’m still having, losing count of the number of times I have been told- ‘It’s nothing, you’re too young to be depressed ‘.

I was always made to believe that there’s nothing wrong with, but I knew- I always did and I still do.
I remember being told that there’s no such thing as depression, it only happens to people to were above 25.
But I could never actually accept the fact that I suffer from a disorder called DEPRESSION- that affects almost 350 million people worldwide; without asking for their permission to ruin their mental and emotional state or asking them their age.
I was always pushed into the bubble of denial, despite knowing the reality and I would always lie to myself and others and just shake my head in yes when they would say – It’s nothing, you’re too young to be depressed, I would just lie to myself and call the doctors crazy.

Depression and anxiety is not a feeling, it’s an illness. Its not somebody’s choice or fault. It can affect anyone-anytime.

It’s almost been four and half years since I’ve been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and today I’m finally ready to understand my illness and embrace the version of myself which I’ve always wanted to accept, without being ashamed, embarrassed and having the fear of being judged for it.

I just need a complete break from everything, my social life, my work, school and especially social media. I’m really looking forward to the holy month of Ramadhan as it may be the perfect opportunity to figure things out.
Please remember me in your prayers ❤️

Depression has become a talking point in the showbiz ever since celebs like Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Manisha Koirala, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Shah Rukh Khan spoke about it openly in public and shared their experiences of struggle.