Postpartum depression is a tough battle, one that many women have to endure behind the joy of having a baby. Actress Sarwat Gilani faced the struggle herself, feeling so overwhelmed that she considered ending her life before finding the strength to move forward.
Appearing as a guest on SpeakEasy with Ayesha Omer, Sarwat Gilani bravely talked about her struggle with postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, narrating how deeply it affected her.
“It’s very important to be a happy person within your own body. It took me a while because I was going through depression, and postpartum depression is crazy. I tried to commit suicide three times. Yes, now I’m like me, but then came the guilt and the fear. I have a little baby, and I wanted to look at her for a while. But you know, Allah places courage inside you, and He gives you the strength to get through it,” Sarwat remarked.
The Ishq Gumshuda actress emphasized the importance of self-awareness and seeking help during difficult times. “Help will come, you just have to be the one looking for it. And in all these things, the most important relationship is with yourself. So, be more self-aware, know what you like, what’s right for you, and what’s not.”
On the topic of marriage, Gilani shared valuable insights on what makes a relationship work.
When asked about the top five things that make a marriage successful, Sarwat said, “First, setting boundaries with your spouse, respecting those boundaries, and setting those boundaries with your in-laws too. I wouldn’t compromise on that, but I would be more understanding, not too demanding, especially financially. Nowadays, it’s hard for one person to manage a household, so if you can support yourself, it’s important to express that. Also, never fight before sleeping, always resolve issues before going to bed.”
The Meri Zaat Zarra-e –Benishan actress also highlighted the importance of mutual support in a relationship.
“Celebrate each other for who you are and how you want to excel and change. Appreciate them, help them achieve their goals,” Sarwat Gilani concluded.
Earlier, in a TV interview, Sarwat explained that she didn’t have postpartum depression after she gave birth to two sons so she didn’t know much about it. However, she went through severe postpartum depression after her daughter was born.
She described meeting her daughter four days after birth because they were in different hospital wards after surgeries. During this time, her baby needed breastfeeding, but Sarwat was very depressed and had upsetting thoughts of dropping her baby to end the stress.
“I was crying uncontrollably and told my husband that I wanted to harm our daughter to stop all the tension,” she shared with tears in her eyes.