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Sarwat Gilani opens up about her struggle with postpartum depression

Sarwat Gilani opens up about her struggle with postpartum depression

The actor revealed that she wanted to 'hurt' her newborn and emphasised that the condition was 'just a mental state' some new mothers endure.
01 Jul, 2024

Sarwat Gilani opened up about having postpartum depression for the first time after her third pregnancy, and the dark thoughts she faced during the difficult time.

During a recent appearance on ARY Digital’s Good Morning Pakistan, the actor revealed that she truly understood what postpartum depression was after giving birth to her daughter Ella in December. She only met her daughter four days after giving birth to her because Gilani had to undergo “serious surgeries” following the delivery.

“When I met her [Ella] four days later, and she was struggling to breastfeed, I felt that I should just drop her [from my arms] because that would end all tensions,” she said.

Gilani said that she broke down later and told her husband, plastic surgeon Fahad Mirza, that she wanted to hurt the baby. Mirza told her that she was experiencing postpartum blues and that the feeling would not be permanent.

“This awareness is very important. If you have strange feelings, they are not you. It is just a mental state that you’re going through,” the Joyland actor emphasised. She said that for awareness, one should read up on postpartum depression before giving birth because the pregnant individual should be the first one to know what they are going through.

“Anything can happen to you during that depression,” she said.

Gilani said that in the first four months after her delivery, she was in a very dark place, adding that during postpartum depression, people faced suicidal thoughts and their situation became “gloom or doom”.

“Postpartum is a very important subject we do not talk about,” she stated.

According to Mayo Clinic, postpartum depression is a complication of giving birth which entails a severe, long-lasting form of depression experienced by new mothers. Some symptoms include depressed mood or severe mood swings, crying too much, difficulty bonding with your baby, intense irritability and anger, fear that you’re not a good mother, and hopelessness.

In Pakistan, postpartum depression is common among women with a prevalence rate ranging from 28 per cent to 63pc, placing it among the highest in Asia, according to a report by the Nursing for Women’s Health Journal. Despite how widespread it is in Pakistan, postpartum depression is often considered a taboo topic which is swept under the rug as it is not considered a ‘legitimate’ concern.

Celebrities like Gilani raising awareness about the disorder helps normalise it and start wider conversations about the importance of providing adequate care to mothers suffering from the condition.

Comments

Syed Hasni Jul 01, 2024 04:53pm
The experience of PPD is beyond words and it varies for each person. Remember that PPD is both temporary and treatable, so seek mental health, as well as support from your spouse, family, friends, and community. Seeking help is not a sign of failure or weakness but a courageous step towards healing, joy, and vitality.
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Salaried pakistani Jul 01, 2024 08:08pm
Elite people with elite diseases. Meanwhile common folks are unable to afford even two meals with crushing inflation and rising taxes.
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Taj Ahmad Jul 01, 2024 08:23pm
I wish the entire family in good health, and happiness in the years to come, Ameen.
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Syed Hasni Jul 02, 2024 04:00pm
Salaried Pakistani PPD is not illness of elite only Around one in seven women can develop postpartum depression (PPD). While women experiencing baby blues tend to recover quickly, PPD tends to last longer and severely affects women's ability to return to normal function. PPD affects the mother and her relationship with the infant. Maternal brain response and behavior are compromised in PPD. According to Beck in 2006, as many as half of PPD in new mothers go undiagnosed because of conflict in privacy and not wanting to disclose to close family members. There is also a stigma around new mothers in that disclosure may lead to abandonment and fear of lack of support.
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Faisal Jul 02, 2024 06:42pm
Salaried Pakistani. Dismissing this depression as an elite disease dismisses the experience of so many women - elite or not. Instead of appreciating that someone who doesn’t have to is sharing her experience for the benefit of others and to create awareness - you judge, ridicule and put your negative energy on display for all. What a miserable life you must live.
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Sabah Jul 02, 2024 10:38pm
It is a common view that depression is an "elite" disease. Like all other inequality, those unable to afford any medical support also suffer very badly as they cannot get proper treatment. Mental health is often treated by various faith based healers and peers saying its just the person being thankless or possessed by some magic or jinns.
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Syed Ahmed Jul 03, 2024 02:26am
If it would have not happened to someone close to me in my family I would have easily treated as elite people disease but seeing it first hand really was terrifying,I hope no one has to endure it and there is proper awareness in public
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Salaried Pakistani Jul 03, 2024 01:51pm
With malnutrition and starvation being the norm, some people want to talk about ppd. No food in stomach and costly healthy food for masses and we will discuss PPD with masses.
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Salaried Pakistani Jul 03, 2024 01:57pm
Maybe even I will speak about these when I immigrate. But in Pakistan, providing clean drinking water and affordable quality food is the priority.
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Syed Hasni Jul 03, 2024 02:57pm
Sarwat and Mirza are proud Pakistanis and are talking about depression which is at the core of all social illnesses including poverty and starvation.
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Ijaz A Jul 03, 2024 07:59pm
The only thing that's causing depression to me is the prices of essential food items. The only cure to my depression is by bringing the inflation down.
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Laila Jul 06, 2024 11:32am
@Saleried Pakistani Postpartum depression is not an "elite disease". It is a very real disease of the mind which effects women across all social classes worldwide. I urge you to look up and understand it and show empathy for those who are afflicted with it. It's known to result on suicide, child neglect, detachment and even killing the baby in sole cases.
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