Divianand is currently 20 years old and is pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree from GITAM University. Due to his father’s transferable career, Divianand is quite well-versed in the nuances of diverse cityscapes such as Pune, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. However, for over a decade now, he has settled down with his family in Hyderabad, Telangana.
A sports aficionado, he’s played cricket at the national level and it has always been one of his greatest passions since childhood.
“There was nothing I enjoyed more than playing different sports. You name the game and I would play it.”
Divianand expresses that he had a wonderful childhood. He loved meeting his friends in school, and also thoroughly enjoyed spending time with himself.
After he graduated from high school, his parents wanted him to go to boarding school for the next two years. This was a big change for him, leaving him a bit skeptical about making new friends in a new place.
“Boarding school was alright but I really missed the life I had before where I used to play cricket.”
Change is something that’s difficult for most of us. Divianand admitted that he managed to accommodate his new school but he constantly reminisced about his old school days.
Little did we all know that the Covid19 pandemic would change our lives forever, whether it was a minor or major impact. The very onset of online classes was a change we all had to adapt to, without a choice.
For Divianand, the lockdown was a period of isolation. He felt extremely lonely as his friends slowly started distancing themselves from him.
“I didn’t understand why I was losing friends. It shattered me and left me feeling helpless for six months.”
As the months passed by, he realized he was only left with one friend who stayed with him throughout this phase. Unfortunately, Divianand noticed that his friend was also slowly starting to move away and it left him feeling very confused.
He felt very insecure throughout this period of time, and he was struggling with his academics for the first time in his life. He felt his relationship with his parents slowly deteriorating at that time, and it made him feel very guilty.
“Before I approached YourDOST, I tried doing some self-assessment tests and most of the results showed that I might have PTSD. That’s when I knew it was time for me to seek professional help.”
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder manifests itself through flashbacks and nightmares where a person might be reliving a traumatic event. People suffering from PTSD often experience feelings of guilt and isolation.
There were two traumatic incidents that occurred in Divianand’s life, which made him feel helpless. It was around this time that Divianand developed a strong passion for writing. It was a way to keep himself occupied, but it turns out that he had a knack for it after all.
He went on to write a book and even published it himself at such a young age.
“Writing was a way to help me distract myself from what was happening around me. The book I wrote received very positive responses and it motivated me to keep working on myself.”
After hearing about YourDOST through his university, Divianand decided to give counseling a try. His counselor was extremely patient and understanding with him.
“My counselor created such a safe space for me to open up about my past trauma. I’m very grateful to her since she helped me recover when I thought I wouldn’t be able to.”
Divianand did not know how to cope with feelings of panic and guilt previously. Thanks to his counselor, he feels more mentally stable and in control of his emotions.
Divianand also expresses his gratitude towards YourDOST-
“I’m so grateful for my therapist at YourDOST. If any of my friends want to start counseling, I’d definitely recommend YourDOST because of their genuine approach.”
Today, Divianand says that he has come a long way from where he was two years ago and has a long way to go. He rates himself a 1 out of 5 in terms of feeling better and is constantly ready to work on himself.
The past is a place to learn from, not to live in. K Divianand has decided to slowly let go of his past and move forward to be the best possible version of himself.
Divianand’s Warrior Tips:
1.“If you want to truly heal from the past, you must give yourself the time and be patient.”
2.“If there is something that’s bothering you, don’t keep it to yourself. Try talking to someone about it and ask for help when you need it.”
