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Though social media is full of opportunities for influencers, businesses and startups, it is also full of people who want to pull others down to make themselves feel better. Something similar happened with Kho Gaye Hum Kaha star Ananya Panday who has been facing trolling since she made her debut in Student Of The Year 2. She recently opened up about how she would 'just break down' and did not want to go on sets and work as she felt she was 'not good enough' during her initial years in Bollywood.

In a recent interview with Barkha Dutt's We The Women, the Call Me Bae actress was asked if being called a 'nepo baby' impacted her peace of mind when she revealed she had to undergo therapy as she dealt with the hate comments on social media.

“I have done therapy in the past, I am not as regular now. I could not articulate my emotions. I used to just feel very, very down. The thing, I sometimes feel with mental health and social media, is that you may read something in the moment and you may not realise that it is affecting you, because you think 'I am fine right now, I am having a good day, I am in the car, I am busy'. I will read a comment and I will ignore it. But weeks later, it could still be there in your subconscious somewhere and things like that really pile up. With therapy, I was just able to consolidate my feelings and articulate my thoughts a little better.”

When asked about the worst way she's been trolled she recalls that people believed anything and everything about her which were all lies. She said that in her initial days in Bollywood, someone made an account about her stating that the actress had lied about her education and getting into college.

“When I started out, in my first year (in films), someone made a fake account on Instagram, and they started writing they were in school with me and said I lied about my education and getting into college. First, I was like, 'No one is going to believe that'. But people did believe it... somedays, I definitely don't want to be on social media. When I was in school, I had been called everything from hunchback to flat chest to chicken leg and hairy. But we were in a bubble, and now, because of social media, the smallest of voices can be amplified across the world, and this is definitely a scary time.”

Social media can take a toll on anyone’s mental health just like Ananya Panday. Though trolling is unethical and can get overwhelming, one cannot stop trollers. Hence, to keep our mental health in check, there are some daily practises we can follow.

5 Daily Practices to Keep Mental Health in Check and Ignore TrollersMorning Mindfulness or Meditation

Start your day with mindfulness exercises or meditation. Spending 10–15 minutes focusing on your breath or meditation can enhance emotional resilience and help you stay centred, making it easier to brush off negativity, including online trolling.

Practice affirmations or positive self-talk to build self-esteem and a strong sense of self-worth. Remind yourself that trollers' opinions are often a reflection of their own insecurities, not your reality.

Designate specific hours of the day to unplug from social media. This helps reduce exposure to negative comments and gives you time to focus on real-life connections, hobbies, or self-care.

Engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. Exercise releases endorphins, the "feel-good" hormones, which reduce stress and improve your mood. This makes it easier to stay unaffected by online negativity.

Gratitude Journaling

At the end of the day, write down 3–5 things you're grateful for. Focusing on the positive aspects of your life, will help you foster a sense of contentment and keep your mental health in check, making it easier to ignore trollers.

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