How Did Alia Bhatt [Bollywood Actress]Fight with Anxiety and Panic Attack?

You have to be able to pick up the pieces of yourself and build a new every day - Alia Bhatt

What happened to Alia’s Mental Health?

Discussion of mental health has picked up significantly in the last few years, especially with public figures like Alia Bhatt talking about the issues each one of them is facing. Alia Bhatt, the leading lady of Indian cinema, becomes a beacon in trying to avoid the stigma associated with mental health, especially in the journey of motherhood. 

She spoke about her postpartum challenges and anxiety, sparking vital discussions over mental well-being in a society that often stigmatizes these issues. 

The article discusses Alia Bhatt's journey, her discourse on mental health, and the more enormous ramifications of her experience.

Background of Alia Bhatt

Born on March 15th, 1993, Alia Bhatt was born into the deeply rooted film fraternity. She made her acting debut with Karan Johar's "Student of the Year", released in 2012. She then went on to do a string of critically acclaimed films like "Highway", "Raazi", and "Gangubai Kathiyawadi". Known to be one of the most versatile actors, she has won several awards for Best Actress, including Filmfare Awards.

That is because she is real and very relatable. She talks about personal struggles, making her very relatable to many. While treading her career path, Alia has recently become an avid advocate for mental health awareness, more so after becoming a mother.

Understanding Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Anxiety is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of long-standing anxiety, fear, and unease. Anxiety manifests itself in panic attacks, which are discrete episodes of intense terror or discomfort. Symptoms may include a bounding heartbeat, sweating, trembling, and feelings of impending doom.

Alia Bhatt has been vocal about her anxiety, especially the guilt that a mother experiences regarding her child. She has also addressed how expectations from women towards being capable on both professional and personal grounds are highly traumatic from the mental health perspective of an individual.

Alia Bhatt and Her Battle Against Mental Health Disorder

Impact of Mental Health on Professional and Personal Life

Since her daughter Raha's birth in November 2022, Alia has often spoken about being self-critical and anxious. In an interview with Vogue India, she talked about the crushing pressure to stay on top of motherly duties and be a successful actress. Alia said, "Even if there isn't judgment, you feel judgmental towards yourself. But I work hard at my mental health and go to therapy every week where I voice these fears".

This statement depicts the inner struggle of most working mothers, who feel inadequate and failing in society's perception. Most women relate to this vulnerability; given how open Alia has been about such struggles, this points toward the constant struggle of keeping one's mental health in check.

Alia Bhatt Opens Up on Her Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Alia has spoken at length about her anxiety in several interviews, especially about those feelings that came after becoming a mother. She said, "You have to be able to pick up the pieces of yourself and build a new every day" as she navigated feelings of inadequacy and guilt with the help of therapy.

Talking about mental issues is a big deal in a culture that often stigmatizes the discussion of such matters, and Alia is no exception. Sharing her experiences, she hopes, will make discussions around mental health a lot more mainstream so people do not hesitate to seek help.

The First Time Alia Bhatt Spoke About Her Mental Health Issue

Public disclosures about her mental health struggles began in earnest after the birth of her daughter. In an interview with Vogue India in 2023, she developed a sense of the importance of therapy within her life: "It's an ever-evolving, ever-growing process". It was that magic moment when she spoke of her career, motherhood, and poor mental health out in the open.

Reasons for Speaking Out

Alia has spoken about her desire to make conversations about mental health routines, particularly for first-time mothers who are flooded with emotions. She alluded to the societal pressures that make one feel inadequate, saying, "There's so much pressure on women to ace both".

Alia shares her story to empower others to find the help they need and to take better care of their mental health. This is important in a world that tends to play down or even deny their mental health.

How does Alia Bhatt tackle Anxiety and Panic attacks?

Steps were taken to cope with anxiety and panic attacks

Alia Bhatt has promised herself to commit to a session of therapy every week, having realized that this is very important for her to keep anxiety and postpartum challenges at bay. The actress has considered therapy a sacred space for the mind, like how she keeps her body fit with regular exercise.

In several interviews, Alia has singled out self-care and mindfulness practices as part of her daily routine. Her social media platforms are also riddled with tips on handling mental pressure, as she likes sharing insights on such topics.

During one of her Instagram AMA sessions, Alia mentioned that 

“I think one of the most important things is, something I have noticed that always helps me is, when you are anxious, you usually try to cover it up by trying to be okay. So the most important thing is to allow yourself to feel it and go through the experience because it is just part of the ups and downs of life”.

Revealing her method of coping with anxiety attacks, Alia said, “The one thing to remember when you are going through an anxiety attack is something that I always do is focus on five things — something that you can touch, something that you can hear, and something that you can smell. In this exercise, you basically focus on your senses and try to focus on five things. If it is just a phase, just know that change is the only constant, so this will change

Alia Bhatt's Mental Health Support System

Bhatt also acknowledges her support system through her family, friends, and mental health professionals. She has always explained the importance of having open conversations about mental health with loved ones; this support is considered a necessity for her wellbeing.

In interviews, Alia has constantly talked about how her husband, actor Ranbir Kapoor, and her family have continuously supported her. She has spoken to them about how encouraging they are, which keeps her balanced through the downs of motherhood and mental health.

Alia, with her openness toward struggles, built a community by which people who have been going through the same struggles would find empathy among each other. Through her openness in her stories, Alia has provided them with a safe place to talk openly about their mental health issues without considering any shame associated with them.

Impact on Mental Health Awareness

Alia Bhatt's journey has turned the tide of awareness on mental health in India. Her openness toward her experiences contributed a lot to breaking down the stigma concerning mental health issues, especially postpartum depression.

While she continues to advocate for mental well-being, her story catalyzed important discussions on better mental health resources and support systems for new mothers. Alia has called for more awareness and understanding of mental health problems, underlining a call to make mental well-being the priority in society.

Powerful Quotes and Interviews

Alia Bhatt's powerful quotes tell her story and resound with many:

"I work hard at my mental health. I go to therapy every week".

"You have to be able to pick up the pieces of yourself and build anew daily".

These quotes show how much she takes her mental health seriously and how it is a journey of the present tense. Alia's openness about her struggles inspired a lot to get hold of their mental health issues and seek help for the same.

Personal Growth Of Alia During/After Mental Health Treatment

Through all these experiences, Alia Bhatt has grown a lot. She has grown to love her vulnerabilities and take care of her mental health as much as her work commitments. This hopefully serves as an example for many other people in the same situation, showing them that there is no need to be afraid, to come forward seeking help, and to accept themselves the way they are.

Meanwhile, Alia has spoken about how her anxiety and being a mother shaped her perspective on life. She has often repeated that self-compassion is critical and that one needs to treat oneself with enough kindness during difficult times.

After recovering from triggers of Anxiety, Alia Bhatt has had a lot of successful endeavors in her life. Where she founded a popular clothing Brand named as Ed-a-Mamma, which is a partnership brand with Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, which holds 51% stacks of the company.

Moreover, she also launched her first children's storybook which is named as “Ed Finds a Home”. Recently, a teaser of one of her upcoming movies “Jigra” - is a movie that celebrates the bond between Brother and Sister.

Normalizing Mental Health for New Mothers

Alia's case puts into light the critical need to normalize the conversations around mental health, more so for a new mother. Transitioning into motherhood could get quite overwhelming, and many women experience anxiety and postpartum depression.

In her interviews, Alia has talked at length about reaching out for help and putting forth the aspect of keeping a mindset for mental health. She even elaborated on what "mom guilt" was because most new mothers tend to feel this certain pressure from balancing various responsibilities. It is by sharing her experiences that she wants other women to come forward and take responsibility for their mental health and seek support where necessary.

Alia Bhatt Bio

Alia Bhatt is an Indian actress who made her debut in the 2012 Student of the Year film. Since then, she has starred in several award-winning films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, Raazi, etc. setting herself as one of the leading Bollywood actresses. Alia is also known for raising awareness about mental health and candidly discussing her struggles.

Conclusion

Alia Bhatt sends a potent reminder about not giving way to mental health and finding help where needed. Her penchant for sharing her struggles with anxiety issues and postpartum challenges helped break the stigma around these issues and propagated speaking out about others to get the necessary support. In the future, as Bhatt continues using her platform to raise awareness and advocate for better mental health resources, her journey of recovery and well-being will no doubt continue to inspire and empower others.

Citations

1. When Alia Bhatt spoke about seeking therapy weekly after daughter Raha’s birth: “I work hard on My Mental Health.” The Indian Express. (2024, April 21). 
2. Vyas, S. (2019, March 29). Alia Bhatt on anxiety: “Sometimes I feel like crying for no reason.” Vogue India. 
3. Pallavi, K. P. (2024, April 23). When Alia Bhatt revealed she feels critical of herself after Raha’s birth; goes to therapy as a new mom. Hindustan Times.
4. Instagram. (n.d.). 
5. Desk, T. E. (2024, April 21). When Alia Bhatt talked about taking therapy after becoming mom to daughter Raha: “It’s an ever-evolving, ever-growing process.” The Times of India. 
6. Alia Bhatt says there is a lot of pressure on women to ace both work and motherhood. (2023, April 26). 
7. Instagram. (n.d.-b). 
8. Find out alia bhatt’s secret mantra to overcome anxiety and panic attacks. The Indian Express. (2023, August 18). 
9. YouTube. (n.d.)
10. Mojo Story. (2022, March 7). Alia Bhatt opens up on therapy, battling Body-Image issues & why you “Can have that fry if you want” [Video]. YouTube. 
11. Haidar, F. (2023, September 6). Reliance Retail acquires majority stake in Alia Bhatt’s clothing brand Ed-a-Mamma. The Economic Times. 
12. Instagram. (n.d.-c).