Swastika Mukherjee Says That It is Okay Not to Feel Okay on Some Days
Last year on World Suicide Prevention Day Swastika shared a photograph of scars on her arm on social media. She wanted to be open about her own vulnerabilities and in turn give others courage to speak and vent out their own struggles.
Keeping in mind the past events that have engulfed our nation, the subject of mental health has become a crucial topic of discussion.
We have witnessed an increasing number of people coming up with vulnerable stories of their mental health problems. Even celebrities have been open about their tryst with mental health problems.
While many of us might feel hesitant to speak about our own mental health experiences ‘Dil Bechara' actress Swastika Mukherjee had gone a step ahead.
Last year on World Suicide Prevention Day Swastika shared a photograph of scars on her arm on social media. The scars were of self-harm.
Who would believe that the talented actress who captivated audiences with her role as Dolly Mehra in ‘Paatal Lok’ and Mrs. Basu in ‘Dil Bechara’ also battled severe mental health problems! While many called her courageous for sharing the photograph, others trolled her severely.
When she shared her scarred image on social media, others who had similar experiences began sharing their own stories and it was like a chain reaction.
“I don’t think, irrespective of gender, human beings should feel ashamed of falling or failing or ashamed of their vulnerabilities and weaknesses. How can feeling hurt be something that is shameful?” she explained the reasons behind sharing the photograph.
She wanted to be open about her own vulnerabilities and in turn give others courage to speak and vent out their own struggles.
“I think it’s very important to speak, it’s very important to speak about everything and you have to first own up to your own vulnerabilities and your own failures. It just can’t be a preaching process — that I will not talk about my failures and I will just keep giving gyaan, that makes you very shallow and I don’t think people will even take you very seriously”, she explained.
The pandemic has affected the strong, the weak, adults, and children in innumerable ways. None of us were prepared for a strange phenomenon like the Coronavirus Pandemic. Especially people who struggle with mental health problems have been hit the hardest. The startling number of suicide cases is proof of that.
In such a situation Swastika advises to give priority to yourself and your own feelings. One needs to stop seeking validation. “There is no hard and fast rule that you cannot feel low, or feel bad or you cannot fail. There will be days when you’re not feeling ok at all, and that is ok. It is fine to feel vulnerable and weak”, she sums up on an encouraging note.
