How Did Deepika Padukone Support Jemimah Rodrigues in Her Battle with Anxiety?
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Deepika Padukone supports Jemimah Rodrigues in her mental health journey.
 - Open conversations about anxiety are essential in sports.
 - Jemimah shared her personal experiences, emphasizing the need for vulnerability.
 - Support from family and friends can make a significant difference.
 - Jemimah's performance highlights the resilience of athletes despite mental health challenges.
 
Mumbai, Oct 31 (NationPress) Actress Deepika Padukone, a prominent voice for mental health advocacy, has expressed her solidarity with cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues following her candid admission about her struggle with anxiety.
The star of Om Shanti Om, who has previously opened up about her own experiences with depression, commended Jemimah for her bravery in sharing her story. Deepika emphasized the significance of discussing mental health issues, especially in the realm of sports. In a heartfelt post on her Instagram Stories, she shared a video featuring Jemimah, where the cricketer candidly spoke about her mental health challenges as she prepared for the ICC Women’s World Cup.
In her heartfelt message, Deepika wrote, “Thank you @jemimahrodrigues for your vulnerability and for sharing your story..”
During a post-match press conference, Jemimah became emotional while reflecting on the support she received from her parents during tough times when anxiety left her feeling numb. She stated, “I’ll be very vulnerable here because I know if someone is watching this, they might be going through the same thing. That’s why I’m sharing this; nobody likes to discuss their weaknesses. I faced significant anxiety at the start of the tournament, often calling my mom in tears.”
“It’s crucial to let it all out; when you’re dealing with anxiety, you feel numb and lost. My mom and dad were my rock during this time. Also, there was Arundhati, who I often cried in front of. I jokingly told her to stay away because I would start crying again. But she checked on me daily,” she added.
After being benched for the initial matches, Jemimah remarked, “Being dropped from the team was hard. It filled me with doubts because I always aim to contribute to the team. Sitting out was tough, and returning brought immense pressure due to everything that had happened.”
“However, sometimes all you need is to hang on, and things will eventually align. I’m incredibly thankful for those who believed in me when I couldn’t and understood my struggles because I couldn’t do this alone,” she concluded.
Notably, with Jemimah Rodrigues’ remarkable unbeaten 127, India executed a record chase of 339 runs at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on October 30, triumphing over the defending champions by five wickets to secure a place in the final against South Africa this Sunday.