Don't want depression to define me, become my identity: Shaheen Bhatt

Author Shaheen Bhatt says her battle with depression is a part of her story, t her entire life, which is why she was apprehensive about writing a book "I've Never Been (Un)Happier". Shaheen was diagsed with depression at eighteen, after five years of already living with it. Her book is a tell-all which takes readers through author's personal pendulum of understanding and living with depression.

Alia Bhatt breaks into tears during Shaheen Bhatt's book launch; see pics from event here

Shaheen says though her parents Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan and sister Alia Bhatt were extremely supportive, she was apprehensive about opening up about her illness. "That's generally apprehension  I've had. My only fear is I don't want this as my identity, that 'she is girl who talks about depression.' This is one part of my life, a part of my story, t whole story. 

"Orwise, I didn't have any or apprehensions. I come from a privileged position, have a fantastic support system so for me it was easy to talk about," she told PTI. author recalled having a bad day and wanting to post something on Instagram. only glitch was, all pictures she was looking to post were happy ones. "I realised why am I putting up a happy picture when I'm t feeling happy. That's why I wrote about it. positive response I got was so overwhelming, it resonated with so many people. That one post turned into an article, n ar and eventually a book."

Alia Bhatt and sisters Pooja, Shaheen in one frame, Mahesh Bhatt has sweetest reaction

Shaheen took a year to write bookshe has been writing, maintaining journals since she was 13 years oldso process came naturally to her. But she does t believe re's anything courous about putting her battle with depression in public through book. "I think it's honest. I feel being honest and courous are two different things. My parents are like that, y are very outspoken. For me, it wasn't ever about cour. I just felt good writing it, it was quite a liberating process."

book, in association with Landmark and Penguin Random House, was launched on Wednesday. Shaheen says certain parts in book were hard for her family to read, but y were incredibly supportive. Alia had recently opened up about how she felt guilty for t understanding her sister eugh but Shaheen says she absolutely understands helplessness of her family.

Katrina Kaif lauds Shaheen Bhatt for her book, Alia Bhatt reacts

"re's only this much your loved ones can do for you with all ir understanding. re's a limit. You are bound to feel that way (helpless) when you love someone. I kw I would. I do feel that way. I have friends who live with depression, I also experience same helplessness so I completely understand what it's like," she says. Depression, however, is t only an illness which people fail to understand, it's also one riddled with misconceptions.

"One of m is that depression happens to those who have time and luxury, which is absolutely t true. In India, it's like 'oh she has a mental illness, she's crazy, unstable.' People also think you have control over it. That's because it's a thing in mind and you have control over your mind so refore it's something you can also control," she adds. Shaheen says conversation about depression can be brought into mainstream through pop culture. " more you represent something on screen, more it gets rmalised. We are starting to do it. Alia featured in a film, which was about rapy process and may be t mental illness, but it is a small way of bringing this into pop-culture and mainstream," she adds.

Alia Bhatt on sister's battle with depression: Feel guilty for t understanding Shaheen