“Help will be provided to those who ask for it.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
34-year-old Dr Manu Bansal is a person who takes life as nothing short of a challenge! He proved the same by carrying a never-give-up attitude throughout his journey in life.
Manu hails originally from Delhi but hasn’t lived there for the past 17 years. He completed his B.Tech in Dehradun, followed by an MBA. He eventually earned his Ph.D. from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Bangalore IIMB and currently, he teaches at IIM Jammu, guiding students through the challenging world of academia.
“Growing up I faced all kinds of peer pressure, particularly from my cousins my age. The competitive environment at home affected me deeply almost shaping my drive for excellence.”
Despite the pressures, he found solace in sports, enjoying badminton, squash, and swimming. These activities provided a much-needed escape from the stresses of academic life.
During his PhD at IIMB, Manu encountered the inevitable challenges that come with rigorous academic pursuits. He described his PhD journey as a lonely one, a sentiment many scholars can relate to.
“I couldn’t escape the pressures of my academic life even when I got married and that was the happiest moment of my life. The constant comparison with my peers, especially when they published papers while I struggled to make progress, became a significant source of stress.”
On the other hand, Manu was also staying outside the campus with his wife as there was no provision for staying for married couples at the university campus. The PhD degree also came along with a lot of uncertainty as it was a 5-year long course, exceeding which the stipend would be suspended.
“Covid-19 came along with a lot of challenges. I had to pay my rent, and eventually, all of my earnings were getting exhausted with the slack in my stipend.”
It was during this time that Manu discovered YourDOST, IIMB’s official mental health partner. He eventually decided to seek therapy and was introduced to his counsellor, Ms Yukti.
“From the very first session Yukti made a lasting impression on me. She was a very good listener and I valued that the most. I needed someone to listen to my problems, something I couldn’t share with even my close ones.”
The primary reason Manu sought therapy was the immense pressure of his PhD journey. The pandemic created a perfect storm of anxiety and stress, making it difficult for him to see a way forward.
Yukti’s solution-oriented approach became a streak of hope for Dr. Bansal. She provided a safe space for him to express his feelings without judgment and offered practical advice to manage his stress as well.
“One of the first and most significant changes I noticed was his acceptance of the fact that not everything might go right, and that was okay. This realization marked the beginning of my healing process.”
Yukti introduced Manu to several other techniques to help him manage his stress and improve his productivity. One such technique was maintaining a timetable which initially seemed an impossible task due to the unpredictable nature of his research work. However, Yukti insisted on the importance of a structured schedule and this practice helped him achieve daily tasks fostering a sense of accomplishment and control.
“Another important part of therapy was experiencing accountability and I began sending daily updates to Yukti about the progress of my thesis and the productive hours I spent in a day. This routine helped me stay on track and instilled a sense of self-accountability that drove me to be more disciplined and focused.”
With time Manu started noticing positive changes in his life. The stress factors that once seemed impossible began to diminish. He learned to manage his emotions better and tasks that previously felt overwhelming became more manageable. He credits this transformation to Yukti’s unwavering support and guidance.
“My admiration for Yukti is huge and I am grateful to her for helping me navigate one of the darkest phases of my life. Her guidance was not just therapeutic but also transformative which helped me emerge stronger and more resilient.
Reflecting on his progress, Manu rates his improvement a solid 5 out of 5 in terms of feeling better. To him, improvement means accomplishing even the smallest tasks every day, no matter what. His journey underscores the importance of seeking help and the power of therapy in fostering personal growth and resilience.
We at YourDOST feel honoured to have been able to help him with the same. We wish him all the luck in all his future endeavours!
Manu’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Always have hope, no matter how challenging the situation and believe that it will get better.”
2.“Therapy doesn’t make you weak and if anything, it makes you stronger. As Dumbledore wisely said, “Help will be provided to those who ask for it.””
