Filmmaker Karan Johar recently opened up about his mental health struggles and emphasised that it is important for public figures to discuss their experiences and struggles with mental health issues to empower others to recognise and address such concerns.
In a recent episode of “Koffee with Karan 8” that featured celebrity guests Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh he talked about his journey and he also revealed that he is no anxiety pills. Johar pointed out that he has been taking medication for anxiety after consulting a professional. In the past, Padukone has spoken about her struggle with depression.
“What happens to me or anybody else, it can happen to anybody. It doesn’t mean you need a trigger, sometimes it is a result of many things, sometimes there’s a trigger. When I spoke about my anxiety, it was to share a part of life that exists. That exists today as well, while I speak. I’ve no fear in saying that ‘I’m on medication’,” Johar said during a press conference for his show “Koffee With Karan”.
He also credited Padukone, who has become the face of mental health awareness in India, for her Live Love Laugh Foundation which helps people suffering from anxiety, depression and other mental disorders.
The filmmaker said most of the moments in the show are unscripted and him opening up about his anxiety was something that he felt he needed to share. “I feel a lot of us, as public figures, go through things, and if you touch on those topics, you are empowering many others to speak about it. I feel I’ve been, in 2016, in a phase where I discovered I was going through anxiety. You get better and it does come back sometimes, it came back again in the beginning of this year. What you do is you address it, and the first thing is you acknowledge it,” Johar said as quoted by PTI.
What are anxiety disorders?
There are moments in everyone’s life that make them feel anxious. However, people with anxiety disorders tend to experience fear and worry that is both intense and excessive.
Anxiety disorders are a type of mental health condition. Along with the feeling of fear and dread, a person with an anxiety disorder may also experience physical signs of anxiety, such as a pounding heart and sweating.
According to Cleveland Clinics, an anxiety disorder happens when:
- Anxiety interferes with your ability to function.
- You often overreact when something triggers your emotions.
- You can’t control your responses to situations.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety disorders are difficult to control, cause significant distress and can last a long time if untreated.
An estimated 4 percent of the global population currently experience an anxiety disorder, the global health agency revealed. In 2019, 301 million people in the world had an anxiety disorder, making anxiety disorders the most common of all mental disorders.
WHO also maintains that although highly effective treatments for anxiety disorders exist, only about 1 in 4 people in need (27.6 percent) receive any treatment.
What are the symptoms and patterns?
People with an anxiety disorder may experience excessive fear or worry about a specific situation. They typically experience these symptoms over an extended period – at least several months.
According to the WHO, people with anxiety disorders show the following symptoms and patterns:
- trouble concentrating or making decisions
- feeling irritable, tense or restless
- experiencing nausea or abdominal distress
- having heart palpitations
- sweating, trembling or shaking
- trouble sleeping
- having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom.
The UN Health Body also maintains that anxiety disorders increase the risk for depression and substance use disorders as well as the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
As per WHO, there are several different kinds of anxiety disorders, including:
- generalized anxiety disorder (persistent and excessive worry about daily activities or events);
- panic disorder (panic attacks and fear of continued panic attacks);
- social anxiety disorder (high levels of fear and worry about social situations that might make the person feel humiliated, embarrassed or rejected);
- agoraphobia (excessive fear, worry and avoidance of situations that might cause a person to panic or feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed);
- separation anxiety disorder (excessive fear or worry about being separated from people with whom the person has a deep emotional bond);
- specific phobias (intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations that lead to avoidance behaviour and significant distress); and
- selective mutism (consistent inability to speak in certain social situations, despite the ability to speak comfortably in other settings, primarily affecting children).
What are the common drugs prescribed to treat anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are incurable. However, it is important to consult a medical professional to get an effective treatment plan. According to the experts, the treatment plan of anxiety disorders usually includes psychotherapy and medication.
Although drugs do not cure anxiety, they can help you manage the symptoms and function properly in your day-to-day life. There are various types of medications for anxiety disorders and it is important to consult a doctor to know which is suitable for you.
- Benzodiazepines: The are edatives that can help relax your muscles and calm your mind. Benzodiazepines help treat many kinds of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Examples of these drugs include: alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
- Buspirone: It is prescribed to treat both short-term anxiety and chronic (long-lasting) anxiety disorders.
- Antidepressants: These drugs can be used to treat anxiety symptoms.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): These drugs work by increasing levels of serotonin. Examples of SSRIs used to treat anxiety include: escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
- Tricyclics: These drugs are used for treating most anxiety disorders, except obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Examples of tricyclics used for anxiety include: clomipramine (Anafranil) and imipramine (Tofranil)
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): These drugs are used to treat panic disorder and social phobia.
Some important side-effects that you should be aware of
According to USFDA, using benzodiazepines, even as prescribed, can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal if you stop taking the drug suddenly. Withdrawal can be life-threatening. It can also lead to misuse and addiction. Misuse of benzodiazepines increases your risk of overdose and death. These drugs should strictly be taken when prescribed by a doctor.
