Mental health is often swept under the rugs in Pakistan, dismissed as unreal or rather, not taken seriously enough. Pakistani singer Momina Mustehsan has always been very open with her fans regarding her mental health and admitted to having been a long-term sufferer of depression.
“There was a time in my life where I was very depressed. I had lost all self-esteem, and there was a point where I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror.”
Momina took to Instagram to post a heartfelt message about how she almost had a nervous breakdown after her very busy schedule and experienced a ‘panic attack because [she] almost hit her threshold’
The singer stated how she ‘almost hit mental, emotional and physical exhaustion,’ and kept keeping it wallowed inside her as she continually reassuring herself she was ‘doing okay,’ just days before.
Momina expressed the importance of reaching out to people close to her, and rightfully insisted that it’s ‘okay to reach out for help, it doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human’
It’s often incredibly hard unraveling ourselves to anyone, but it’s important to do so. As Momina says, sometimes all it takes is one person to put you back up on your feet.
Here is her incredibly stripped and emotional message
I have been immensely busy lately – occasionally taking multiple flights a day, running on almost no sleep and working all day every day for weeks without a single proper day of rest. All this while I had kept telling myself I was doing okay, keeping it together outwardly until I almost hit mental, emotional and physical exhaustion. I woke up yesterday having a severe panic attack because I almost hit my threshold. Yes, those are real. And they crush and paralyze you for the moment. But that moment stays for as long as you let it stay. I always try dealing with all my problems by myself, but I reach out to people close to me when I know I could use help. Please know that it’s okay to reach out for help. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.Â
If someone you care about starts behaving differently in any way, please take a moment to check whether they’re doing okay – even if they say they are fine. Sometimes all one needs is for someone to have a little faith in them and tell them that they believe in them. We are all self sufficient, but we all occasionally need that extra push and reassurance from the people that mean the most to us.To my near and dear ones that have helped me back up on my feet before I’ve fallen: Thank you. For believing in me when I find it hard to keep believing in myself. Thank you for seeing good in me when I’m unable to. For going the extra mile to help me find my strength again when I lose sight of it. Thank you for making me want to work harder to be a better human every day.
Fans reached out to Momina, sharing similar experiences they have had
And others praising her for raising awareness on such a grave matter that plagues many
Fans lauded Momina for opening up and sent beautiful words of encouragement her way
If you do feel as Momina has felt, never shy away from reaching out to a loved one. They will always be there as a backbone to help you fight.