EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Jane Dias on maintaining mental health, “I understand truly that being an actor is what I do, it’s not who I am” : Bollywood News

Sarah Jane Dias was recently seen in the well-known shows like Made In Heaven season 2 and Freelancer. But she also has another side to her. She has a podcast named The Sarah Jane show where she speaks about mental health. She also opened up about her own mental health journey in a chat with Bollywood Hungama.

EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Jane Dias on maintaining mental health, “I understand truly that being an actor is what I do, it’s not who I am”

“I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression three years ago,” said Sarah. “It happened a year after my father died. I feel that I always had the tendency to have anxiety and depression and I think that my father passing away maybe pushed it all out. It was very difficult for me to believe that I was depressed and anxious.”

When asked how she dealt with it, she added, “I started a course of medication and I also started to do therapy through psychologist. I did CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). I also did alternative healing simultaneously when I could. I became even more interested in what I was putting into my body and trying to be kind to myself, instead of being at a very strict eating regiment.”

Sarah also added that she is not 100% fine and there are days and weeks where she feels low, but her support system and tools keep her going.

Film industry is considered a place where the pressure can affect one’s mental health. But Sarah believes that it doesn’t happen only in the film industry. “I think there are pressures in all industries. So, I think people need to take care of their mental health regardless in whatever industry they may be in. I maintain it by taking a lot of time to be with myself, to go inward, to find a lot of stillness inside me. I also maintain it by understanding truly that being an actor is what I do. It’s not who I am. So, making a kind of space between the two personas (is important) because as an actor, you are going to get criticized for the way you look. Your performances are going to get criticized in front of the camera. And people are going to say things on who you are and your personal life,” said Sarah.

Also Read: Zoya Akhtar reunites with Made in Heaven crew and cast to celebrate success of the show; Manish Malhotra shares pictures