Our warrior, Priyanka’s story begins in the vibrant city of Guwahati, where she was born and raised. A tapestry of memories colored her childhood, surrounded by the love and warmth of her parents, her uncle, and her grandfather.
Just like a sailor who sets sail from familiar shores to distant horizons, Priyanka embarked upon her journey from Assam to the bustling cityscape of Hyderabad.
Being an avid and passionate reader, she found her calling as a physics teacher. She is currently 26 years old and works at BYJU’s.
“Right from the time I was a child, I’ve experienced feelings of anxiety. I didn’t really know how to talk to my family about it, and I ended up keeping these feelings to myself.”
Priyanka mentions that she’s always appeared to be calm and relaxed on the outside. However, what was always hidden were her patterns of overthinking and anxiety.
“I was in a relationship for six years which ended very abruptly. I had unresolved feelings about the breakup, and it made me feel very anxious.”
Clinical Psychologist Carla Marie Manly says “Memories of our former relationships are less in our control than we might want to believe.”
Naturally, these memories were very strong for Priyanka, and as a result, she felt that it was impossible to let go of her ex-partner.
“After a period of time had passed, I began a new relationship with someone else. Though things were going well, I couldn’t stop thinking about my past breakup.”
Her ex-partner’s reasons for the breakup still remained a puzzle, and Priyanka’s fear of history repeating itself kept her mind disturbed throughout her days.
She worried that she might jeopardize her relationship because she just couldn’t seem to keep her mind off the past. In the midst of this emotional storm, Priyanka knew that it was unhealthy to keep all these feelings to herself.
After hearing that her company, BYJU’s had partnered with YourDOST, Priyanka decided to seek help in the form of counseling.
“At first, I felt a little apprehensive about opening up about my deepest feelings. However, my counselor, Ms. Ananya made sure I felt very comfortable and safe and ensured that she would support me in whatever way she could.”
With Ms. Ananya’s guidance, Priyanka learned to navigate the storm within her mind. She understood that like a river, her thoughts might flow sometimes turbulent, but always evolving. These thoughts were mere passengers on her journey, not the captain of her ship.
The techniques that Ms. Ananya gave helped Priyanka find the sense of calm and peace that she was looking for.
“I started journaling which was a way for me to let my thoughts out, and reflect on them. Ms. Ananya also used to send me audio files which helped me calm down and discover mindfulness.”
As Priyanka attended her sessions regularly and followed the techniques given to her by Ms. Ananya, she noticed a variety of positive changes in herself.
They say that acceptance is one of the most important steps to growth. Priyanka discovered that there was no need for her to blame herself or feel guilty for being affected by her past.
The river of thoughts may surge, but it’s the choices we make that determine the currents we sail. With the right tools, Priyanka was able to cope with her feelings of anxiety in a healthier manner, and feel an overall sense of peace and calm in her current relationship.
She expresses her gratitude to Ms. Ananya for her constant guidance and support-
“I’m very grateful to Ms. Ananya for never judging me, and for always being so patient. She has helped me overcome a lot of challenges, and accept that it’s okay not to always be okay.”
The metaphor of a river reminds us that every wave passes; we must discern what to hold onto and what to let go. Priyanka’s journey stands as a testament to remind us that storms don’t last forever and that every horizon holds a new beginning.
She rates herself a solid 4 out of 5 in terms of feeling better and is on a never-ending journey of growth and improvement. We wish her all the best for her future chapters to come!
Priyanka’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Take things one day at a time. Give yourself the time and space to reflect on your thoughts and feelings and see how you can improve in the future.”
2.“Don’t bottle up your feelings. Open up to someone who you can trust, and know that there is always help around.”
