Originally from the state of Punjab, Akash is a 24-year-old fiery and passionate student at IISER Tirupati pursuing his PhD in Mathematics. He has had an easy time throughout his life and considers himself lucky as he did not have a lot of problems growing up. His parents gave him a good childhood and they trust him a lot which has helped him have a good bond with them.
He identifies his hobby as playing cricket and also staying updated about current affairs.
Akash was in his stride doing the regular things people would do, putting an extreme amount of effort and time into his PhD and working hard towards his thesis.
Things slowly started hitting rock bottom for him. He got to know about YourDOST through his college when he was dealing with issues concerning his research.
He expressed that he was able to consciously decide to speak to people as the platform gave him the guarantee of anonymity. He also explained that he was not very consistent with his sessions but would come when he felt like it.
“I saw things taking a bad shape in my life and needle assistance and it was around this time did counseling came to me like a saviour.”
The determination to actively work on himself without giving up was something Akash held on to and swore by at all points. He was always finding answers and this kept him going even through his bad days.
“For the first time in my life, I struggled to manage my emotions. I was constantly overthinking to the point where my thoughts were physically affecting my well-being.”
He felt physically exhausted as he struggled and would often feel lethargic, and daily tasks became difficult for him to accomplish.
“I used to feel so anxious that I struggled with my daily activities. That’s when I knew I needed to approach some help.”
Amidst the turmoil, he decided to seek counseling and booked his first session with his therapist, Ms. Sheetal Rajput.
“I used to feel so anxious that I struggled with my daily activities. That’s when I knew I needed to approach some help and booked my session”
Akash described that he was having suicidal thoughts and that these would occur in phases, if something goes wrong in his life he acts up. On having trust issues with people he did not speak to anybody of his stuff and decided to seek professional help.
Through YourDOST he was able to consciously decide to speak to people.
PhD stress spiralled him, he did not have a good relationship with his guides and had to change it almost six times.
He mentions that things took an unexpected turn with his PhD. The transition from metropolitan chaos to a smaller town stirred up a whirlwind of emotions.
“For the first time in my life, I struggled to manage my emotions. I was constantly overthinking to the point where my thoughts were physically affecting my well-being.”
One small step can change the course of an entire journey. Akash took the step to begin his journey of healing and mentioned that it was one of the best decisions he has made.
“I’ve always been scared that people would judge me if I opened up about my mental health. Ms. Sheetal never made me feel like that. She made me feel so safe and comfortable throughout our sessions.”
In their counseling sessions, he found solace in opening up about his struggles. Ms. Sheetals unwavering patience and support created a space for him to be truly vulnerable about his deepest fears and insecurities.
A pivotal and impactful technique that Ms. Sheetla introduced was breathing exercises that helped him process his thoughts and made him realise himself better and gain clarity.
“After a few sessions, I felt so motivated and could open up to her and that is itself new for me especially because I was not somebody who trusts people easily.”
As they continued to progress with their sessions, he noticed a transformation within herself.
Through this journey, he realised that the process of healing is not a linear one. It is a continuous one, defined by small victories along the way.
Akashveer credits her counselor for helping him pave this path of improvement and expresses his heartfelt gratitude towards his counselor-
I genuinely thank my college and my counselor for providing me with a space like this as it has helped me get through my bad days and optimise my thinking better.
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
Akash’s story serves as a testament to the power of vulnerability, acceptance, and self-love. Through his courage, not only did he find peace and comfort but she also found his voice to inspire others to come forward and ask for help.
He rates himself a 5 out of 5 in terms of feeling better and is ever-ready to take on any challenges that life throws at him with a resilient and optimistic spirit.
Akash’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Try your best not to ignore your emotions. Instead, pay attention to them and see what you can do to care for them.”
2.“When surrounded by issues, saying that you are stressed is only going to increase. Always function with an I have to solve mentality.”
