Zaira Wasim reveals battle with depression; it is common in children, say experts

“I was always made to believe that there’s nothing wrong with [me], but I knew - I always did and still do. I remember being told that there’s no such thing as depression, it only happens to people who were above 25…” This is how actor Zaira Wasim, who won people over with her portrayal of the young Geeta Phogat in the 2016 blockbuster Dangal, explained her battle with depression.

In an Instagram post she wrote yesterday, Zaira opened up on how she got a panic attack at the age of 12, and has ever since battled depression. Elaborating on how extreme it got for her, she wrote that she’d pop five antidepressants every day, have anxiety attacks, would be rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night, be restless, anxious, have hallucinations, have sore limbs from sleeping too much, or not be able to sleep at all for weeks.

‘Younger children do suffer from depression; there’s no age’

Psychologist Priyanka Verma explains that depression isn’t something that only affects adults. “A lot of people tend to pass over the symptoms, thinking, ‘Oh, the person is smiling, how can they be depressed?’ This is very common. But younger children do suffer from depression; there’s no age. Depending on your situation, things can be traumatic enough for you.”

Zaira saying that she slept too much or not at all is one of the most important symptoms. Verma says, “There are three most important signs of depression — hopelessness; helplessness; worthlessness. If a person feels any of these, they’re heading towards depression or are already in it. The physical signs are changes in sleep pattern and appetite — excessive or less sleep, or disturbed sleep; extreme or no appetite.”

‘On the sets, she was like most of us. I can’t believe she is going through so much’

Actor Meher Vij, who was Zaira’s on-screen mother in the film Secret Superstar (2017), shares that she never sensed the 17-year-old actor was going through so much. Vij says, “On the sets, she was like most of us, happy and focused. I can’t believe she is going through so much. I tried getting in touch with her, but she is yet to get back to me. I hope she becomes fine soon,” says Vij, sounding worried.

Talking about depression, Vij adds that a lot people go through it and there can be several reasons. “As an actor, I also went through low phases. And it took me time to cope with it. It’s not easy being an actor. You become mentally so exhausted. More so for child actors who get exposed to too much too early. It’s not easy for them [to deal with it],” she says.

‘Sometimes, it’s because of chemical imbalance, which can be rectified through medication’

Psychologist Harsheen K Arora reveals that anxiety and panic attacks are very common in children these days. “Even in adults, depression manifests itself in different ways, and differs from individual to individual. In children, it has become very common, especially with the kind of pressure they have, due to social media,” says Arora.

Other reasons of depression in children, says Verma, range from “being bullied by siblings or peers, or a hostile home environment”. She adds, “Sometimes, it’s also because of chemical imbalance, which can be rectified through medication. Parents don’t realise it because they feel ‘What does my child have to feel unhappy about?’ or ‘This cannot happen in my family.’ If you are anxious or depressed, you need to seek treatment, that’s the first step. You cannot magically walk through this and say, ‘I will be fine the next day.’”

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