Amidst the honking horns and cloud of crowds that filled the streets of Bangalore, a young woman named Pavithra moved to the city. While Pavithra’s day job was as a teacher, her life was filled with many new experiences and hobbies.
“I had found solace in the two things that had always brought happiness: art and swimming. Filling a blank canvas with vibrant colours and diving into the pool always helped me ease off that stress
Born into an Army family, Pavithra’s early life was a whirlwind of new places and experiences. From the lush greenery of the South to the stark beauty of the Himalayas, she had seen it all by the time she was a teenager. But it wasn’t just the scenery that captivated her – it was the sense of community and belonging.
However, the stability she once knew was disrupted when her family settled in their native town after her 10th grade. The change brought turbulence into her life, both within her family and in her surroundings.
For a young girl like Pavithra, who had grown up in the protective cocoon of her family, it was difficult at first. The turmoil around her left her feeling lost and confused.
The COVID-19 pandemic struck, confining Pavithra to the four walls of her home for work. Isolation and being confined at home posed serious emotional challenges for her.
The expectations of society began to infiltrate Pavithra’s home, and she watched in dismay as her parents began to prioritise status and appearances over their relationships and values. Her relationship with her parents became strained.
“I had never imagined things would turn out this way at home. The transition in thinking, from broad-minded to narrow-mindedness in my native town was jarring. It started to affect me.”
Pavithra’s anxiety manifested in overthinking and physical symptoms. She sought help from various doctors, even resorting to sleeping pills. The pills provided temporary relief but came with their own set of side effects. It was clear she needed a different approach.
In times of despair, Pavithra found a glimmer of hope when her organisation Byju’s, introduced her to YourDOST, an online mental health platform. She took the leap of faith and sought therapy.
When Pavithra first met with Ms Ranjitha K she immediately felt understood and supported. Over time, their sessions became a safe space for her to share her struggles and explore new ways of thinking.
Ms Ranjitha had a few exercises or suggestions for Pavithra to resolve her emotional tussle. With her therapist’s guidance, Pavithra learned to challenge her negative thoughts and replace them with more constructive ones. She developed a gratitude practice and began to see the good in every situation.
“Ranjitha helped me understand that I couldn’t control everything in life and that sometimes it was better to accept things as they were.”
As Pavithra continued to implement the techniques her therapist had suggested, she began to experience a profound shift in her perspective.
With time, Pavithra’s tears began to dry, and her sense of resilience grew stronger. She found herself able to face difficult situations with poise and grace, no longer feeling overwhelmed by them. She had come a long way from the person she was before therapy, and she knew it was due to her determination and the efforts of her therapist.
“I feel that YourDOST’s availability round the clock made it easier to seek help. Although I initially preferred just the chat option, my therapist encouraged me to try to speak and let it out which proved to be more effective. I’m grateful to have such support from my therapist and the combined efforts for the sessions.”
Pavithra’s life began to change for the better. She embraced activities that brought her joy, like swimming, trekking, travelling, and even scuba diving. She found her inner strength and started preparing for adversity before it struck.
Pavithra feels that she found help at the right time from the right counselor and rates her transformation journey a 4 out of 5 in terms of getting better. She is happier than ever and is ready to spread her wings to explore new places, try different adventure sports and just be alive.
Pavithra’s Warrior Tips:
1. “Sharing your pain with someone trusted can calm you down for a bit. If they understand and help you, stick with them.”
2.“Try new experiences, meet new people. Plan to pick a new hobby or indulge in sports. Give therapy a try, it’s a misconception that it costs a fortune.”
