Devi is 28 years old and has a master’s in Visual Communication Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
Growing up in Assam with her lovely family, Devi was a creative soul who enjoyed having her own space. While she enjoyed connecting with others, she always felt most grounded in her world and limited her conversations to her circles.
“Schools and colleges are the kind of places where people socialise more and exchange ideas, but even then, I still felt comfortable with the original version of myself that preferred solitude.”
Given Devi’s nature, she explains that when she entered the university, which had high academic demands and many spaces where one needed to socialise for her master’s degree, she felt overwhelmed. Devi also felt lost and confused as she navigated living away from home.
Devi had always been interested in self-help and better understanding, so she wanted to try therapy to examine her inner self, keeping the societal prejudice aside. Upon recalling her college orientation, she remembered that her college had partnered with the YourDOST platform to offer emotional wellness support to students, and she began using the resources available.
“These were my initial days of exploring therapy, and I do come from a family where the stigmas about mental health were strong, but eventually I learned more, overcame those and took the help I needed.”
Initially, she spoke to a few different counselors through the platform. Eventually, she found someone with whom she truly resonated and needed at that point in her life. She explains that it was all about gaining her trust in the beginning, as she needed assurance about the sessions.
Devi expresses that eventually, she believed in the process as her counselor created a safe environment for her to open up and share her emotions. She adds that the conversations with the therapist gave her insights that pushed her towards the desired clarity and understanding.
“One of those conversations left a lasting impact on me. He told me that if we keep adjusting to every person we meet, it’ll exhaust us in the long run. The best thing we can do is be authentic. That stayed with me.”
As she continued seeking help and gaining insights from her sessions, she grew more confident in her choices. Devi elaborates that being honest during the sessions made it easier for her to introspect, made her feel that what she was going through was normal, and acknowledged her phases of life.
For Devi, therapy has been less about fixing and more about understanding. She says that the professional insights helped her get there. She thanks her counselor for helping her see her true self and value authenticity, quiet reflection, and meaningful connection.
As she’s in her late 20s, she continues to keep therapy as a mechanism to deal with her lifestyle and patterns and rates herself 5 out of 5. We applaud her for never giving up and wish her all the best in the future.
Devi’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Whatever you’re feeling is valid. There’s no shame in feeling your emotions to the fullest.”
2.“You’re not alone. Everybody is struggling in their own way, so hold on and keep trying.”
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