“The first step towards change is awareness, the second is acceptance.”- Nathaniel Branden.
When a sudden change reveals itself, it may surprise us and even push us into denial. This situation is similar to the physics law of inertia, which states that an object will continue to be either in a state of motion or in a state of rest unless an external force acts on it. Hence, an external force is important to push us out of inertia.
Meet Vaishnavi, a BS-MS student at the prestigious IISER Thiruvananthapuram. This 21-year-old prodigy, from the small town of Tutukudi, Tamil Nadu, made her way into the esteemed institution with sheer determination and hard work.
Vaishnavi described her relationship with her parents as a bumpy one since childhood and wasn’t as smooth as one would expect it to be.
She is a a person who leads a very active lifestyle and her love for sports is unattainable.
“I play the badminton and volleyball and love indulging in various sports. I write poems and sing sometimes, and these are my hobbies.”
Initially, Vaishnavi couldn’t understand the sudden changes in her demeanour and didn’t want to accept something she couldn’t understand, hence she turned to therapy to learn about herself better.
Vaishnavi learned about YourDOST from her institution which collaborates with the organisation as their official mental health partner. Here she met Dr Arya Kaushik, whom she chose to be her therapist for the coming days.
“Dr Kaushik was taking it really slow with me as I was sceptical about sharing my personal concerns with her initially. She understood my pace and was quick to adjust to my pace to make me feel comfortable”
Vaishnavi felt extremely good and comfortable with her and was able to open up about her issues. She shared her reasons for uneasiness and Dr Arya made it a point to make her feel heard.
“I was ashamed of the situation I was going through and could not wrap my head around it. I was going to a psychiatrist assigned by my institute and was taking medications as well. The psychiatrist could not allot more time to me as they were the only person for numerous students and that made it difficult for me to express my feelings freely.”
Vaishnavi was also hitting rock bottom in her studies and couldn’t function properly around her day-to-day tasks like eating food or drinking water. She realised that something was absolutely wrong when she began having suicidal thoughts and self-harming tendencies. Hence, the short psychological sessions in her institutions weren’t enough for her.
“I wanted to get back into my studies and become who I was before, even though it felt like I was lost. I realized I needed more techniques and support as what I was going through was complex and tough. So I wanted to grow, be better, and lead a happier life.”
Dr Arya helped Vaishnavi accept her sudden changes and get on a journey of healing with various exercises and techniques. These little changes in her life helped her achieve bigger positive impacts that helped her grow as a person.
“Dr Kaushik helped me practise mindfulness as the first exercise in my healing journey. This helped me focus on my present and breath in the air while feeling each breath in my soul. Next, we moved on to the 54321 technique which helped me appreciate all the sensations around me.”
Vaishnavi started following these techniques rigorously to better her way of life and lead a happier and healthier life. She also practised a head and neck yoga form, that helped her regulate her overwhelming thoughts and get into a better state of mind.
“Gradually, I was able to go back to my normal routine of life and I was extremely happy about it.”
Although some routines in our lives may seem mundane, the incapability to do those activities helps us realise the importance of simple mundanity in our lives. Vaishnavi was able to go on with her daily tasks and routines without further hindrance. She slowly started becoming interested in studies again and the fire of learning started burning inside her once again.
“I’m so grateful to Dr Kaushik for walking into my life and helping me come back to my old self with patience and determination. I’m able to lead a much healthier life today and found new interests to indulge in that helped me transform myself.”
Dr Kaushik was more than a therapist to Vaishnavi and played the role of a friend through her tough times. The magical combination of finding comfort and getting solutions helped Vaishnavi overcome her overwhelming thoughts and helped her find solace in living her life to the fullest.
In terms of feeling better, Vaishnavi rates herself a solid 4 out of 5 and envisions improvement as being courageous enough to face the things you are most afraid of. She emphasises that even if one is not able to overcome the situation, the ability to face the situation is what matters in the long run.
We at YourDOST are proud of Vaishnavi’s journey till now and wish her all the best for her future!
Vaishnavi’s Warrior Tips:
1.“The stigma of seeking therapy should be banished as a whole. Mental health concerns are nothing to be ashamed of.”
2.“The bravest thing you can do is ask for help and make changes in your life.”
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