Perspective: Ariana Grande’s panic attacks

Ariana Grande: ‘My anxiety, depression have been at an all-time high’

Ariana Grande is no ordinary jane doe. Grande is an Internationally acclaimed recording artiste.

We are distressed to learn that Ariana Grande has been struck by a panic attack and anxiety related issues. When most of us were 26 we enjoyed life to the max. We had no time for panic attacks. We just enjoyed life. Grande admission that she has been masking her anxiety/panic attacks for some time now is interesting.

Stigma

There is considerable amount of stigma attached to mentally related issues like depression and anxiety disorders. This could make treatment not sought early.

We hope Ariana Grande’s support system will work with her to ensure she is not overbooked and get a burn out early. Depression and other mentally related illnesses must be treated and not ignored. This can lead to long term irreversible effects. We must not pour scorn on anyone including Ariana Grande. This could be anyone of us. We hope her mental issues will be dealt with professionally. If that is what they are, we hope they are not substance abuse related. We have no evidence that this is so.

Role Model

Ms. Grande is an internationally acclaimed recording artiste who is seen as a role model to host of young impressionable minds. Grande has 154 million followers on Social media.

Clinical Psychologist

We are not professionals in the behaviour of the mind. There are trained professionals who can reasonably with some accuracy predict the behaviour of human character. Psychologists or psychiatrists are so trained in this regard. Our perspective should not be viewed in this regard.

We wish Ariana Grande speedy recovery from her anxiety attack or depression related problems. She deserves the best like anyone of us.

What is your perspective? This is ours.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie, photojournalist and Senior International Correspondent for Vision Newspaper Canada.