‘I slept on the hospital floor’: Tina Ahuja recalls Govinda’s accidental gun injury and the panic that followed; how caring for a loved one can take an emotional toll

She remembered being the one to take him to the hospital, describing the distressing sight: “He was actually going to Calcutta for an event, and it was an early morning flight. He was, like in the movies, wearing white pants, white jeans, a white t-shirt, and a jacket. Woh poora white jeans jo hai naa poora laal ho gaya tha (The entire white jeans had turned completely red).”

Tina also recalled how her father resisted medical intervention. “Because first he was in the ICCU and I was sleeping down, and then he was shifted to the ICU. And my father is very finicky. He is very desi. So he does not take drips, he does not take antibiotics, he gets very irritated by all these things,” she shared. Through the chaos, she remained by his side, sleeping on the hospital floor. “Just at that time, because even when the accident happened, I was the one who took him to the hospital… And I told him, ‘Papa, this is all thanks to all your movies,’ that what they say came in the flashback, you had the courage to fight back and you know, to go to the hospital.”

So how do such overwhelming emotional shifts during a medical emergency affect a person’s mental and emotional health in the long term?

Sonal Khangarot, licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room, says, “Moments like seeing a loved one recover after a medical emergency can bring what Hans Selye called the GAS model (General Adaptation Syndrome) into play. In simple terms, our body first enters alarm mode (fight or flight), pumping stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to help us cope. Then comes the resistance phase, where we stay alert and emotionally guarded. Finally, when the crisis passes, the parasympathetic system steps in to calm the body — but if stress lasts too long, that relief can trigger tears, exhaustion, or even guilt.” 

Over time, she notes that such emotional whiplash can lead to heightened anxiety, hypervigilance, or avoidance of anything that reminds one of the event. As a psychologist, I’d say these “tears of victory” often carry unprocessed fear, healing means allowing yourself to feel both the relief and the vulnerability that came before it, without suppressing either.

When patients resist medical help due to personal beliefs or discomfort, how can family members manage their anxiety?

“Family members can set small negotiation goals — like agreeing to one step at a time — which helps regain a sense of control for both sides. It’s also important to manage your own emotional load through journaling, short breaks, or talking to a therapist. Sometimes, accepting that you can’t control every choice is the most compassionate form of care,” says Khangarot. 

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