I have dealt with depression in my 20s and anxiety recently, says Neha Bhasin

Singermusician Neha Bhasin is known for her musical talent in Bollywood Tollywood Kollywood and also solo tracks which belong to the genre of Indian pop and Punjabi folk music Mid Day Online met up with her exclusively on the occssion of lsquoWorld Mental Health DayrsquoNeha do you know what the theme of this yearrsquos lsquoWorld Mental Health DayrsquoThe theme I believe is global mental wellbeingHave you ever struggled with any kind of clinically diagnosed mental health condition If so will you be comfortable sharing your experienceI have dealt with depression in my 20s and with anxiety recently Most importantly I have premenstrual dysphoric disorder which is a hormonal mood disorder I have been dealing with this since 2 decades Lack of serotonin at that point creates a havoc in my mental health for two weeks every month I take my mental health very seriously since I have faced the repercussions of it at a young age and at the prime and start of my career I felt a disconnect a void I did therapy in 2012 for dedicated two years and worked on shedding old baggage and learnt meditation and releasing technique I still start my day in silence and practice gratitude and on listening to positive affirmations Emotions need to be dealt with everyday else they turn into a baggageWhen did you realize that you have mental health issues that needs to be addressedI realized at the age of 20Did you try talking discussing the same with anyoneI couldnt find the help I really needed then It was a very different time I still feel a lot of issues like my PMDD goes undiagnosed or taken seriously due to lack of enough knowledge or studies but the symptoms are as devastating as a bipolar disorderWas it tough dealing with Covid 19 timesCovid 19 was easy initially but I think eventually it took a toll on me But I did focus on meditation and journaling a lot at that timeAlso Read Katrina Kaif reveals Vicky Kaushalrsquos reaction to Phone Bhootrsquos trailer Since you have addressed the problem and have come our successfully can you tell us as to how can one identify the people with mental issueChange or erratic change in behavioral pattern in a sign Being sad and depressed though may seem similar but are very different Empathetic people can see thatWere you on medication of any sort or only counselling helped you out to overcome itI relied more on cognitive therapy that medicines I also rely on lifestyle food nutrition and a disciplined approach to mental health I did though for a short while take antianxiety pills recently as it was affecting my gut and hence my healthThese days many people young and old are becoming victims day by day to the silent problem of mental health Is there anything that you want to tell themYou are not alone and you can bs helped so please dont shut out and reach out to someone you trust and seek helpWhat has been your greatest achievement so farStaying sane through it all and still feeling excited about lifeHow do you motivate yourself dailyI listen to Rumi Deepak Chopra I do alpha meditations and I practice gratitude Running helps a lot too I listen to motivational speeches and run an hourAre you a satisfied person todayNo I am not satisfied but I am gratefulAlso Read Karan Johar announces he is quitting Twitter