When a plant or a seedling is subjected to harsh weather, it bends and sometimes breaks, but with the right nurturing, and ample care, it grows back equally stronger. Similarly, life’s struggles can often feel like dark clouds blocking the sun that make everything seem bleak, but with the right help and support, we can weather the storm, heal, and find the light again, emerging stronger and more resilient by the day.
Today, we bring you the story of Arun, a PGDM graduate from IIM Indore. He hails from Kerala; the God’s Own Country, a place known for its serene beauty and rich culture.
Arun has a close-knit family of four and his relationship with his family members is “pretty cool” as they have a sense of mutual respect and love for each other.
“My biggest passions are writing and public speaking. My love for speaking in front of an audience and expressing my thoughts through writing has become a significant part of my identity.”
Arun first heard about YourDOST during his time at IIM Indore, which partners with the organisation as their official mental health support. It was here that Arun met his counsellor, Ashna Agarwal.
“My first impression of Ms Ashna and her session was that it was calming. The course I was studying was hectic, especially coming right after the pandemic. There were a lot of people, and we all had to wear masks all the time. I needed someone to vent to, and that’s how I stumbled upon YourDOST. Ashna was a good listener from the start.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Arun considered himself a social butterfly. However, when the pandemic hit and forced everyone into isolation, it was starkly different to his usual social life. The inability to interact with others in person, coupled with the constant use of masks, took a toll on his mental health. He felt a new sense of loneliness that he hadn’t experienced before.
“Social media played a huge role in my declining mental health. Seeing people travelling, partying, and constantly connecting with friends made me feel left out. I had a few loyal friends who would call me, but it wasn’t the same.”
At around the same time, he also had to deal with the pressure of marriage discussions with my parents, which he wasn’t ready for after such an isolating experience. He also couldn’t mingle much with his female colleagues due to a lack of prior interaction and that created a sense of inferiority in him.
The overwhelming academic workload added to his stress and he needed someone to talk to because he couldn’t take out his frustration with his peers. This led him to seek help from Ashna at YourDOST.
Ashna suggested several techniques to help Arun cope with his feelings.
“Firstly, she asked me not to go in with preconceived notions as just because someone doesn’t talk much doesn’t mean they’re not social. She told me not to judge my worth by the number of phone calls I get. She made me understand that some people might like you a lot but are caught up with their own struggles.”
Ashna also allowed Arun to express his frustrations freely and she let him rant for the first 15 minutes of their sessions. She would then pick one item from the list and slowly start dissecting it. She asked him why he felt the way he did and allowed him to express himself fully.
“Ashna treated me more as a friend than a counsellor. She understood where I was coming from and helped me navigate my feelings.”
Through these sessions, Arun began to notice positive changes in himself.
“I’ve now become more comfortable in my own skin and the loneliness factor has decreased. Nowadays, I don’t mind staying inside, watching things on my phone and also not getting numerous phone calls, which doesn’t bother me anymore. I’ve also noticed better inclusion and started to unlearn certain negative behaviours.”
Arun expresses deep gratitude towards Ashna.
“I want to thank her for being more of a friend than a counsellor and supporting me through this journey.”
Arun rates himself 4 out of 5 in terms of feeling better and he believes improvement means being able to handle similar situations better in the future without relapsing into negative feelings.
We at YourDOST believe Arun is well on his way to hitting the golden 5 mark, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours!
Arun’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Don’t let the stigma around therapy and mental health affect you. Just reach out.”
2.“Everyone needs help at some point, and there’s no shame in asking for it.”
