Saiyami Kher highlights importance of seeking therapy, calls it a ‘sign of strength’

Saiyami Kher has spoken about the importance of seeking professional help and why therapy is not a sign of weakness. (Image Source: Instagram/saiyami)

Saiyami Kher, in a recent conversation with Humans of Bombay, opened up about why people may sometimes find it difficult to share certain things even with their closest friends, while highlighting the importance of seeking help from a therapist.

“I feel that happens in real life so much that there are certain such dark spaces people go through and they’re not comfortable sharing it with your best friends, which is why going to a therapist who’s seeing things objectively and giving you an objective view is extremely important,” The Ghoomer actress says.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. 

Talking about the pressure that people in the limelight experience, she adds, “People in the limelight get told more, more pressure on them for whatever reasons… You never know by making a certain comment, what’s going on in that person’s head. But it’s about how you deal with it and how you cope with things… I genuinely feel that in the time we are living in right now, it’s extremely important to get help. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength.”

Why opening up to friends can sometimes be hard

We tell our best friends everything – from awkward dates to terrible bosses, yet there are certain things that stay locked away for years. Often, it isn’t about trust. When someone’s opinion matters this much, honesty can feel riskier. Saiyami Kher’s comments show why even close friendships can make opening up hard. 

Dr Chandni Tugnait, MD (A. M) Psychotherapist, Life Alchemist, Coach & Healer, Founder & Director, Gateway of Healing, explains the reason behind this and shows why therapy fits in:

• The fear of being misunderstood: The closer someone is, the more it hurts to disappoint them. You imagine their face changing or the friendship feeling a bit different afterwards. So, you say nothing. It’s easier.
• Friendship has its limits: Your best friend loves you, but they’re not a trained listener. They have their own baggage and their own opinions, and sometimes they simply don’t know what to say. That’s okay. It doesn’t make the friendship any smaller.
• Therapy offers a different space: A therapist has no history with you, so there’s nothing to protect. You can say the half-formed, confusing stuff out loud and sort through it. Over time, you start spotting patterns in how you feel and learn better ways to handle them.
• You don’t need a crisis: Therapy isn’t just for when everything falls apart. If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or can’t explain what’s going on in your head, that’s reason enough to go

Friendship and therapy do different jobs, and both matter. Not sharing everything with your best friend doesn’t make you distant. Asking for professional help isn’t weakness. It’s recognising that sometimes we need support beyond the people closest to us.

HELP IS A

CALL AWAY

Mental health helpline numbers

AASRA

Contact: 9820466726

Email: aasrahelpline@yahoo.com

Timings: 24x7

Languages: English, Hindi

Snehi

Contact: 9582208181

Email: snehi.india@gmail.com

Timings: 10am - 10pm, all days

Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi

Fortis MentalHealth

Contact: 8376804102

Timings: 24x7; All days

Languages: Achiku, Assamese, Bengali, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu

Connecting NGO

Contact: 9922004305, 9922001122

Email: distressmailsconnecting@gmail.com

Timings: 12pm - 8pm; All days

Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi

Vandrevala Foundation

Contact: 18602662345

Email: help@vandrevalafoundation.com

Timings: 24x7

Languages: Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and English

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. These lines are staffed by trained volunteers or professionals and calls are typically confidential.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.