Subroto is a 29-year-old warrior born and raised in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. A resilient soul with an undying spirit sailing through life’s challenges and self-discovery. Following school and college in the same place. Multicultural, rich in its traditions and values. The year 2018 led to several changes in his life. He joined an ed-tech startup, Gradeup, which in 2021 has been rebranded as Byju’s Exam Prep.
In his formative years, he engaged in a protracted struggle against health problems that had a profound influence on his familial relationships. Childhood for Subroto was not without hurdles. He suffered from serious health issues, particularly a tumour and a lingering impact from an injury when he was five months old.
“I was very close to my maternal grandfather. Out of all my cousins, I used to get all his attention and care. It was always great to stay around him. Spending time with him was a treat, and he imparted wisdom along the way.”
The path leading to Bengaluru wasn’t just geographical but emotional. Subroto’s journey witnessed its highs and lows. He aimed to get enrolled into IES (Indian Engineering Services ). He was a mere whisker away from success, but fate had other plans. This affected his mental peace and the tussle of hard work seemed to be gone in vain. He eventually joined an edtech startup, BYJU’S in Bengaluru.
While surfing through the tides, Subroto encountered a difficult phase of his life. His mental health suffered greatly, and an ongoing struggle with anxiety, often concealed by bouts of anger, resulted in a prolonged state of emotional distress. The emotional distress led to clinical depression.
“I was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety after coming across certain symptoms. The diagnosis marked a pivotal moment in my life.”
The emotional imbalance had brought distinct changes in his behaviour that were easily noticeable. Internal turmoil led to actions that appeared erratic to those around him. When he was out of sorts, his conduct may be perceived as unpredictable or hard to comprehend, causing others to struggle to engage with him.
“I knew I was being very hard on myself, feeling anxious and angry over my actions. I was stuck in a loop and couldn’t find the gap to escape.”
Subroto’s interaction with his friends suffered the most which escalated to feelings of abandonment and further aggravated his anxiety. The only beacon of hope was to get back on track.
“I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I was on medication for the following 4-5 months. The pills only helped me control my anxiety and my sleep to an extent.”
Subroto began a journey of self-reflection and healing. Not long after, he encountered YourDOST for counseling services related to mental health. He decided to give therapy a chance since things have taken a turn for good.
The sessions provided a safe space where he was heard and understood. Subroto began his transformational journey under Ms Anita Eliza’s guidance and support.
“I had consulted a few counselors before, but when I began my sessions with Ms Anita Eliza was a very different experience. I felt someone was there to hear about my problems and emotions. I felt heard and understood that the absence of judgement created a safe space to share candidly.”
Ms Anita Eliza had a few exercises and suggestions up her sleeves to help Subroto cope with his anxiety. Anita suggested trying to hinge on self-empathy, to begin with. Journaling was one of the key elements to self-reflect and make amendments. Breathing exercises helped in relaxing and calming down to take a pause.
“I will forever be thankful to my counselor Ms Anita Eliza for treating me right and hearing me all out as it was my most significant requirement. Her guidance helped me gain confidence and a deeper understanding of myself.”
Persistent and combined efforts enabled Subroto to escape his self-created enclosure. The techniques and exercise helped him to step out again and begin socialising with people. He rekindled friendships and embraced vulnerability.
Subroto’s narrative illustrated the triumph of resilience and self-discovery, reminding everyone that the light of transformation could prevail even in the darkest moments. He rated a solid 4 out of 5 in terms of getting better and wishes to become the best version of himself daily.
Subroto’s Warrior Tips:
1.“I think one should begin with loving yourself regardless of all the shortcomings.”
2.“Never compromise your mental or physical health for something that is not worth it.”
3.“You will never be alone in this journey once you begin, you’ll find like-minded people along the way. It’s just time to dig more to find the treasure underneath.”
