Sameera Reddy Opens Up About Years of Therapy After Childhood Bullying for Stammering
New Delhi: Sameera Reddy, known for her candidness about mental health, postpartum struggles, and anxiety, recently revealed the long-lasting impact of being bullied for stammering during her childhood. In an interview with Hindustan Times, she shared how it took years of therapy to rebuild her confidence, and how childhood labels continue to affect her even today.
Childhood Labels and Their Lasting Impact
“I’ve seen this up close. I grew up with a stammer and was bullied for it. It took years of therapy to build confidence, and even today, if I stammer and someone reacts, it still affects me. That’s how deeply childhood labels can stay with you,” Sameera Reddy said.
She explained how labels, even when casually used, can quietly shape a child’s self-belief:
“Hearing that they are ‘slow’ or ‘weak’ repeatedly can create internalized doubt, making children less likely to try or take risks academically and socially. When a child is repeatedly called ‘weak’ or ‘buddhu’, they can start believing it. That belief slowly shapes how they see themselves, and they may stop trying altogether. That’s how a label becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Parenting Lessons and Encouragement
Reddy emphasized the importance of positive reinforcement in her own parenting. She encourages her children, Hans and Nyra, to speak openly and reassures them that struggles in one area do not define their worth:
“I tell my children to talk to me, to understand that a struggle in one area does not define who they are, and never to put someone else down in return. When children receive encouragement, guidance, and opportunities to learn at their own pace, confidence and resilience naturally grow.”
She added that parents, educators, and peers play a key role in replacing judgment with support:
“Parents must listen to their children and understand who they are and what works for them. What may be great for one child may not necessarily be right for another. Constant comparison and trying to keep up can become overwhelming. Focus on what’s truly right for your child, not societal pressure or appearances.”
Career and Personal Life
On the work front, Sameera Reddy was last seen in the 2012 film Tezz. She married entrepreneur Akshai Varde in 2014, and the couple has two children, a son Hans and a daughter Nyra. Her candid reflections highlight not only the challenges she faced growing up but also her commitment to nurturing confidence and resilience in the next generation.
