“They would hold my hand as we watched the stars. They would jump with me over the waves, and play noughts and crosses in the sand. They brought in me a love for music, books and compelling conversations. And suddenly they weren’t there any more.” Very heavy words from someone I have known closely for more than seven years, as she confided in me about the deep loss of her parents a decade ago.

Though this conversation took place several months back, I was reminded of it as Deepika Padukone came out about her struggle with depression. But unlike Deepika, my friend lived with depression for almost ten years — and didn’t even know it. Neither did I. The secret sadness that people carry is not always apparent to the rest of the world. We used to meet often, and spoke about many things. But never about her past, and never about this.

Many people go through highs and lows, and unfortunately its not always easy to distinguish between a low phase and clinical depression. Recent studies show that 17 per cent of all adults go through depression at some point in their life. Studies also show that two thirds of the world’s depression sufferers are female. Shockingly, in the UAE, almost 75 per cent of patients treated for depression are women, a leading UAE-based psychiatrist said.

The role of women has evolved over the years. There is a building pressure for us to be perfect mums, wives, career women, party-hosts and dependable friends. Sometimes we leave very little time for our own needs, causing burnout. Having gone through a bout of post-natal depression myself, I know that is no fashionable affliction. It is a real, menacing and draining feeling that demands serious attention. I sought the help of a psychiatrist, but knowing well the after-effects, I decided not to take the prescribed medication. Instead, I turned to reading self-help books. I started to exercise and meditate every day, and I came out of it stronger.

“I think awareness was the first step, and seeking help — the next. Plagued by fatigue, I turned to yoga, which made me realize how intimately connected our body is to our mind.” My friend went on to study meditation, breathing and energy healing from reputed teachers, and slowly she too began to heal.

If I help one person, even one person with this article, I will rest easier tonight because eventually, all the answers are within. If you can’t find them, that is okay too; but it’s necessary, critical in fact, to seek help of a professional, or guidance of a loved one. The road to recovery is never easy, but neither is it impossible. We all deserve the happiest life possible. We are all worth it.