Ananya Panday, a prominent figure in Bollywood’s Gen Z landscape, has been increasingly vocal about her personal journey with mental health, self-acceptance, and navigating the often-turbulent waters of social media. In various interviews and discussions, she has offered insights into her struggles, coping mechanisms, and evolving perspectives on these crucial aspects of modern life.
Opening Up About Mental Health
Panday has been candid about her experiences with mental health, particularly how social media trolling and public scrutiny have affected her. She revealed that early in her career, the negativity became so overwhelming that she considered quitting acting. “When I started out, there were days I didn’t want to go on set,” she admitted, recalling the period when controversies surrounding a “college thing” and a “round table thing” went viral. This period was marked by intense trolling and accusations, which took a significant toll on her mental well-being.
The Impact of Social Media
Panday has spoken extensively about the insidious nature of social media’s impact on mental health. She described how negative comments, even if initially ignored, can accumulate in the subconscious and resurface later. “Sometimes I feel, with mental health and social media, that you read something in the moment, and you may not realise that it’s affecting you because I am fine right now,” she explained. “I will read a comment, and I will ignore it, but weeks later, it could still be there in your subconscious mind. Things like that really pile up”.
She also highlighted the comparison culture fostered by platforms like Instagram, where users often present curated versions of their lives. “Nobody posts their failures on Instagram,” she noted. “You are constantly comparing yourself with someone who you think has a better life or is constantly travelling or looking happy”. This constant comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
The Role of Therapy
To cope with these challenges, Panday turned to therapy. She emphasized the importance of seeking help and destigmatizing mental health care. “There is a stigma definitely, but I think it has gotten a lot better,” she observed. She also mentioned that therapy is normalized in her family, with her mother, grandmother, and sister having all sought help.
Panday found therapy particularly helpful in articulating her emotions and consolidating her feelings. “I couldn’t articulate my emotions,” she said. “I used to just feel very low”. Therapy provided her with a neutral space to rant and process her thoughts, which she found invaluable. “With therapy, I was able to just consolidate my feelings and articulate my thoughts a little better,” she explained.
Small Steps to Mental Wellness
Panday’s journey underscores the significance of incorporating daily practices to nurture mental health. These include:
- Mindfulness Meditation: Taking a few minutes each day to focus on the present can aid in managing stress and enhancing self-awareness.
- Regular Exercise: Physical activity releases endorphins, which can boost mood and energy levels.
- Adequate Sleep: Ensuring a restful mind by aiming for eight hours of sleep each night.
- Screen Time Boundaries: Limiting exposure to social media and negative news to prevent unnecessary anxiety.
- Gratitude Journaling: Reflecting on positive aspects of the day to cultivate a healthier mindset.
- Social Connections: Spending quality time with loved ones to foster a sense of belonging and support.
Embracing Self-Acceptance
Panday’s journey also involves a growing emphasis on self-acceptance and self-love. She acknowledges that self-love is not an overnight process and that she still has days when she feels unconfident. “Self-love doesn’t happen overnight,” she stated. “I have days when I don’t feel confident and beautiful. But you have to just go through that phase. You need to go with it and not be hard on yourself”.
Authenticity and Imperfection
Panday stresses the importance of embracing authenticity and accepting imperfections. She recalls a time when she was a “people-pleaser,” constantly worrying about others’ opinions. “Earlier, I couldn’t enter a party alone and would overthink to the point of driving myself crazy,” she shared. “My brain was occupied with thoughts: ‘Do they like me? Do they not like me? Have I said the right or wrong thing?'”.
However, she has since learned to prioritize her own well-being and not be overly concerned with things outside her control. “Now, I don’t care as much about the smaller things that aren’t in my control,” she stated. Accepting imperfection in oneself and others can help reduce anxiety and let go of unrealistic expectations. “It’s okay to make mistakes or not meet everyone’s expectations all the time,” she acknowledges.
Redefining Beauty
Panday challenges conventional beauty standards and advocates for a more holistic view of beauty. She emphasizes the importance of feeling beautiful on the inside and recognizing that true beauty goes beyond physical appearance. “I feel that’s something that I’m learning to do every single day,” she said, referring to the importance of inner beauty.
She also acknowledges her own evolving relationship with beauty and glamour. “I feel like I have two personalities,” she contemplates. “I love being that glamorous girl, dressing up, and getting my pictures clicked. But when I am not working, I want the complete opposite of that. And I like having that balance”. For Panday, self-love means respecting her body by keeping it “well-fed, well-rested and well-exercised”. “More than trying to hit a target body weight or size, I am looking more for happiness by simply being kind to my body,” she explains.
Lessons in Relationships
Panday has also reflected on her past relationships and the lessons she has learned about self-worth and boundaries. She admitted to having changed herself in previous relationships to align with her partner’s preferences. “I have been in a relationship where I have changed myself a lot,” she shared. “I would pretend, like, ‘I want to watch this movie,’ but I would do whatever my partner liked – eat the food they liked, go to the places they preferred”.
However, she now asserts that she would not compromise her own identity or preferences. “Now I would want my partner to accept me as I am, just like I’d accept them for who they are,” she stated. She also emphasizes the importance of loyalty and respect in a healthy relationship and recognizes that romance comes from small gestures and genuine support, not grand displays. “For me, half-heartedness doesn’t work,” she stated.
Setting Social Media Boundaries
Recognizing the potential impact of social media on mental health, Panday advocates for setting healthy boundaries and mindful usage. She acknowledges the pressure of social media but emphasizes the importance of doing things when she feels like doing them. “When it comes to social media, I think it’s important to set boundaries with yourself,” she said.
Recognizing the Need for Breaks
Panday admits that she is not always good at setting boundaries and tends to get caught up in endless scrolling. “You need to recognize when it’s getting too much, or when it’s affecting your mental health, and I’m not very good with that,” she confessed. “I tend to indulge once I start scrolling, I just keep scrolling and don’t know where to stop. So I’m really trying to monitor that”.
She recognizes the need to take breaks from social media and to disconnect when it becomes overwhelming. Some days, Ananya admits, she avoids social media altogether to protect her mental space.
“So Positive” Initiative
Panday has also taken proactive steps to promote positivity and combat negativity on social media through her “So Positive” initiative. This initiative includes a campaign called “Social Media for Social Good,” which highlights individuals who have used social media to help others. She also started a YouTube channel, “So Positive with Ananya Panday,” where she interviews creators and discusses the relationship between mental health and social media.
Through these efforts, Panday aims to spread kindness and raise awareness about the positive potential of social media. “Recently, I launched this initiative on social media, where we feature the stories of social media heroes, and how they’ve helped their followers,” she said. “That’s something that really shows the positive side of social media”.
CTRL: Exploring Social Media Dependence
Panday starred in the Netflix thriller, CTRL, which explores the perils of social media dependence and the potential for technology to control our lives. The series delves into the complexities of the digital age through the story of a content-creating couple whose seemingly perfect online persona unravels. Panday expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “CTRL is engaging, impactful, and definitely makes you wonder if you are truly in control of your life”.
An Ongoing Journey
Ananya Panday’s openness about her struggles and triumphs serves as a reminder that prioritizing mental health and cultivating self-acceptance are essential in today’s world. By sharing her experiences, she not only destigmatizes therapy but also inspires others to embark on their own paths to healing and self-discovery. Her journey is a testament to the power of vulnerability, authenticity, and the importance of setting boundaries in the digital age.
