Saying “I’m not okay” can be difficult when there is constant pressure to appear strong. Speaking on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10, actor Arjan Bajwa, known for films including Rustom, Fashion and Kabir Singh, speaks about vulnerability, public scrutiny and learning to protect one’s mental well-being.
“I think it has more to do with the social pressure to say, ‘I’m okay,’ even if you’re not doing okay inside. On a normal basis, people do not like to show themselves as weak or vulnerable. Hence, this attitude,” he said.
Being in the public eye can make that pressure even stronger. “Being in public life obviously means being open to scrutiny and constant criticism because the stakes are very high, and you are expected to represent an image of perfection in many ways,” he said.
But he believes public figures cannot be expected to stop being human. “As human beings, when something is out of your control, even if you are a public figure, you still behave like a human being. That norm is somehow not acceptable to society,” he said.
For him, maintaining mental peace requires accepting that reality and giving oneself the right kind of mental training. “That kind of mental training is something one has to give themselves to remain peaceful and maintain some sanity in life,” he said.
He feels people need to recognise the difference between physical exhaustion and mental exhaustion. “I think one can always deal with physical exhaustion by sleeping or taking some time to rest. But mental exhaustion never ends. When your mental peace is disturbed, when you can’t stop thinking about certain issues, and when something is really bothering you, that is when one needs to take a step back. That’s when you know you are moving towards burnout,” he said.
For him, mental health deserves at least as much attention as physical health. “Mental health is just as important, if not more important, than physical health,” he said.
Reflecting on difficult phases in his own life, he sees them as an unavoidable part of being human. “Difficult phases are a part of life. Even a heartbeat shows up on a monitor as going up and down, which are troughs and crests. If the line is flat, that means you’re not alive,” he said.
Having experienced personal tragedy, he believes time can help people move through difficult periods. “In that respect, human beings are blessed to overcome difficult situations in life, as time is a great healer,” he said.
His advice is ultimately simple: “I have been through certain very strong tragedies in life, so all one can say to themselves is, ‘This too shall pass,'” he said.
“Keep working towards your goals, maintain your mental balance, and have empathy and sympathy towards yourself and others in life. There is no other magic wand to deal with it,” Arjan ended.
