How Ishaa Vinod Chopra Deconstructed The Disorder That Once Consumed Her Life

Ishaa Vinod Chopra learned early that if she were to rise above the odds, turning her varied experiences into catalysts to move forward was the only way. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 16, Chopra's journey accelerated with a survival mode right from her teenage years. She survived an abusive marriage, all sorts of bias, and a plethora of challenges with her mental health. Chopra's life, which flipped upside down with trauma, sought refuge in nothing and no one but Chopra herself; as her late uncle often articulated - "Let Ishaa help Ishaa." Chopra mentions this crucial aspect of her healing journey in her book Finding Order in Disorder: A Bipolar Memoir, published by Om Books International. 

Ishaa Vinod Chopra comes from a family of multidisciplinary artists and filmmakers. "My grandfather S.Sukhdev was an internationally respected documentary filmmaker, whom we now suspect dealt with mental health issues, as shown in my mother Shabnam Sukhdev’s documentary The Last Adieu. My mother explored and shared the inner frameworks of her relationship with her late father (my Nanaji, whom I never met) and won a National Award for her autobiographical documentary feature," Chopra recollects.

Chopra's father Vidhu Vinod Chopra who recently treated the world with 12th Fail, on the other hand, was nominated for an Oscar at 27 and has been part of the creative world for decades. While Chopra's sense of writing and her ability to articulate her surroundings stems from her roots, it's her brave fight in life that shaped her purpose and the woman she is today. 

In an interview with SheThePeople, Ishaa Vinod Chopra delves into the intricacies of her memoir, surviving bias and trauma at an early age, standing firm against bipolar disorder, and how she shaped her experiences into triumphs.  

Excerpts from the interview with Ishaa Chopra

What influenced you to pursue a career in mental health advocacy and education? 

At 16, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and over the years, the sheer stigma, bias and discrimination I faced in my professional and personal relationships prompted me to break down the barriers which I had placed between me and my surroundings due to self-stigma. This detachment from a ‘label’ was only possible if I viewed myself as a mental health advocate. 

Later in my career as an educator, when I joined Dalhousie Public School, Dalhousie, in North India, as a dance teacher, I realized that my passion for working with children was immense. Not only did the young minds play an integral role in my healing from my trauma from my previous abusive marriage, but they nudged me slightly into diving deep into my curiosity and exploring my own ‘inner child.’ Today, as I am about to complete my Honours Bachelor in Early Childhood Education from George Brown College, the idea that children are ‘capable, competent, and curious,’ which is part of our Ontario curriculum, speaks to me in more ways than one. I often wonder, if, as children, we are not forced into expressing ourselves in adult ways in our formative years, what impact would that have on future generations?  

Today, as a research intern for Dr. Adam W.J. Davies, the exploration and analysis of how pre-service early childhood educators deal with mental health challenges on a daily basis continues to motivate and inspire me. I have lived experiences as an educator who also identifies as 'mad’ (Mad activists seek acceptance within the society of who they are, rather than being seen as a problem to be fixed or seeking inclusion within a broken system.) and can therefore advocate for mental health from a place of ‘knowing.’

‘Mental Health Advocacy’ can be applied within the early childhood sector to support educators and families with mental health challenges, which will improve educators' working conditions and the relationships between children and their caregivers/educators. Finally, advocacy means forming thoughts and ideas about a specific topic that ignites or excites me and propels me into action in community settings.

Can you share your experience with bipolar disorder? What kind of misconceptions around mental illness did you witness yourself let go?

To this day, I do not believe I live with a ‘mental illness,’ and that is precisely what has made me a survivor to this date. I view myself as an empowered individual, no different from anyone else, and I do not view myself with a stigmatized lens, and that is what has helped me cope in my darkest times.

Not losing faith in myself has also been a key to my survival. For example, I truly believe that when one does not have an ‘Ikigai’ or a fulfilling purpose in life, it can get extremely frustrating. Therefore, I strive to strike a balance between order or harmony and disorder or chaos. We cannot all have good days, and there will always be ups and downs, even for the ones who are not diagnosed with ‘bipolar'.

Could you describe the story behind your latest work, Finding Order In Disorder: A Bipolar Memoir? I’m particularly intrigued by the title. Please share what ‘order’ means to you and how you seek it. 

I found a sense of order amidst the chaos by confronting and deconstructing the disorder that once consumed my life. I firmly believe that true order emerges from navigating through chaos and allowing ourselves to fully experience it while processing its impact and engaging in profound introspection. It's essential to develop effective coping mechanisms to address the pain that often accompanies the disorder, whether it manifests physically, mentally, emotionally, or, in my case, medically. 

In my life, I seek order in disorder by writing, journaling, dancing, painting, researching, and actively advocating for mental health. Relationships are a key to survival as we are social beings. Today, we even have a Harvard study that proves the people who live the healthiest lives are the ones who have formed the strongest bonds. To that effect, I prioritize my close relationships, and today, that is with my husband Biswarup, parents, siblings, and close friends.

I also believe in ‘Pet Therapy’. One can label it whatever they want, but having the company of my pet dog, Dobby, has helped me cope immensely, particularly in the days when I could not fully maintain connections with humans.

Finally, to occupy myself, I post videos on my YT channel, where I dance not with the sole purpose of garnering views but rather to enjoy myself through dance movement. This has proved to be a therapeutic hobby for me time and again.

Regardless of its form, disorder is universal in human experience. It's the fuel that ignites our inner drive to cultivate order out of chaos. Without disorder, we lack the impetus to embark on the transformative journey toward achieving harmony and clarity in our lives.

How has your passion for dance helped with your wellness journey? Can such arts be integrated into existing mental health treatment approaches?

For me, dance is like meditation, where the dancer transcends into a different universe and is devoid of any worldly thoughts. There are no boundaries that differentiate one musical rhythm of dance from another. All dance is movement through space.

When I was in rehab, I used dance as a form of therapy on several occasions. I used to play loud music and dance my heart out. Dance movement was an excellent method to channel my energies positively and help me calm and cope with my mental health, particularly with the reality that I was, in fact, in a hospital.

Apart from dance therapy, art therapy was also a way for me to release my emotions on canvas. Often, I would make use of the resources that were provided and create works of art that, sometimes, even in my ‘normal’ state, would be rare to replicate.

Finally, as I had previously done a course from the Yoga Institute in Mumbai, I utilized my theory and practical sessions to do simple asanas that would help reduce my stress and anxiety levels. It also aided me in engaging in a physical activity apart from dance.

Whether such arts can be integrated into existing mental health treatment approaches is a fair question: it is safe to say that these treatments are being used in Canada as well as in India. If some centres consciously make it an integral part of their treatment approach, it would do wonders for mental health patients, including those who cope with physical ailments. An empty mind is indeed a devil's workshop. Therefore, it is imperative that one is encouraged and finds inner motivation to occupy oneself with artistic hobbies, which may well be translated into a passion or a viable source of income someday.

In your book, you also delve into your experience as a survivor of domestic violence. Could you share how your healing journey has helped you find empathetic and effective approaches for other survivors? 

In my journey, I was extremely fortunate to have a robust support system in the form of my parents and my late uncle Vir Papa, who were there with me every step of the healing process. I know that family support is not always easily accessible to women who experience domestic violence, for example, in many rural areas of India. However, I believe once the conversation begins on taboo topics such as domestic violence, it will be easier to find solutions collectively.  

An effective approach that is extremely valuable is finding pillars of strength and support from 2-3 people in the community. This treatment model is often called the ‘collaborative care approach’ in the West. They could be part of an organization, a family member, a friend, or even a stranger. Having faith and trust in someone who can guide you in the right direction or provide a listening ear to your problems is essential. In my life, I have always made it a point to have a few people that I can trust as caregivers. 

If these supports are not readily available, it is essential to reach out to helpline numbers or organizations that can help you overcome trauma and be a catalyst in one’s healing journey. I would like to share one quote, which is the title of one of the chapters in my memoir: ‘Let Ishaa help Ishaa.’: This was the advice given to me by my late Uncle Vir, and I have lived by it to date. Until and unless we do not take the initiative to help ourselves, no one else will. We need to prioritize our own mental and physical well-being. I know it is easier said than done - but contrary to how most women feel when doing so - doing this does not make you selfish. There is a vast difference between being selfish and having ‘self-love.’ Without self-love, it is impossible to be there for others, including yourself.

What are some common myths about people with mental illness that you see most people have? How do you attempt to bust them and create a more accepting environment for those struggling with mental illness?

I often get enraged when I see some doctors post videos about what a particular condition means, especially ‘Bipolar.’ Most videos do not make any sense. Although they list a few symptoms, they are exaggerated and dramatized to gain view counts. False representations of mental health disorders not only scare people who are diagnosed and force them to self-stigmatize but also increase discrimination and stigma in society towards people with mental health challenges. 

Most people think that people with mental illness are the illness themselves. By this, I mean the person is viewed by society as the symptoms that define an illness instead of their very own unique personality traits that define them as an individual. I would encourage people with mental health diagnoses to rid themselves slowly of self-stigma and for others to function from a space of empathy instead of sympathy. There is a fine line between caring for others and feeling sorry for someone with a mental health disorder.

Another myth is that people with mental health diagnoses will not be able to be good parents. Being parents is a personal choice, and as a society or even as parents, we cannot rob the right of freedom of choice from our children who want to have children. For example, many people are discouraged from being parents if they deal with mental health issues. This not only creates trauma and stress for couples but can also trigger lower moods in some cases.

There have been many instances, for example, where women who experience mood disorders tend to stabilize with the sheer joy and responsibility of being mothers. I cannot speak for others; however, I do dream of being a parent one day. Surely, we should not generalize and use statements that demean individuals who cope with mental health issues. In rare cases, of course, if a condition negatively impacts children, there are options for family or medical interventions. 

In the digital age, there is much talk about mental health in the media. Would you say this slowly increasing awareness is a good sign? How do these platforms and new technologies further mental health advocacy efforts?

The role of social media in increasing awareness of mental health is undoubtedly a good sign. However, it is a double-edged sword because, today, it is a well-established fact that an excess of social media contributes to mental health issues. The concept of ‘FOMO’ or the fear of missing out can crop up inside us every time we see someone else’s posts with a million views and then compare them to our seemingly dull lives. I myself have instances where I have done Instagram ‘Detoxes’ from time to time!

However, there are plenty of pros to using social media to our advantage, and mental health advocacy efforts are indeed one of them. By using posts to share research, dispel myths, and open difficult conversations, mental health is being openly talked about today. On platforms such as LinkedIn, which is for professional use, many professionals in education and mental health advocate actively through mediums such as video and audio podcasts, articles, ebooks, research journals, etc. This not only creates awareness but also helps to reduce the stigma that is so closely associated with so many mental ailments. The more we talk about positive mental health, the more we can create an empathetic, caring society that is emotionally and culturally sensitive!

The book will be available on Amazon internationally by 17th June. It's available for pre-order presently.