“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – William James.
For many of us, the path to success is paved with challenges that test our resilience and self-belief. Angela (name changed), a 28-year-old Integrated PhD in Chemistry from IISER Thiruvananthapuram, knows this journey all too well. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of seeking professional help when faced with personal and professional obstacles.
Originally from Thalassery, Kerala, Angela grew up in a middle-class family, raised primarily by her grandparents while her parents worked. She was close to her parents and grandparents but couldn’t share a deep bond with her brother.
“My brother was born with an age difference of 6 years so I wasn’t too welcoming towards him, as I was too pampered and the only child of my parents.”
As an only child for the first six years, she was a studious and hardworking student, driven by the desire to secure a respectable job and become independent. She focused on working hard towards creating a better future for herself.
“I always wanted to have a good, respectable job from childhood, so I focused on my studies from a young age. I come from a middle-class family, so it was my motivation to work hard and get into a prestigious college.”
Angela’s dedication paid off when she was accepted into the prestigious IISER Thiruvananthapuram, where she recently completed her Integrated PhD. She also secured a stipend with her scholarship which made her feel ecstatic as a strong independent woman.
Despite Angela’s applaudable success in her academic front, she faced some troubles in life that led her to seek help.
During her time at the institute, Angela encountered two significant challenges: relationship issues and a lack of confidence. Recognizing the need for support, Angela reached out to YourDOST, the mental health platform that had a collaboration with her college as their official mental health partner.
She was paired with two brilliant counsellors, Ms Sanjana Anwar Ali and Ms Heba Ahmed, who made a lasting impression from their very first session.
“I approached Heba for my self-improvement and Sanjana for relationship advice when I was about to get married. Both of them were solution-oriented and focused on the root causes. They were extremely empathetic and friendly and were good listeners who helped me immensely.”
Ms Sanjana and Ms Heba worked closely with Angela to address her relationship challenges and lack of confidence.
“I was talking to a person at that time, and that was leading to a marriage alliance, so I needed advice. I was close to him and depended a lot on him because I couldn’t control my emotions well. So when he came into my life, I started being too much for both of us, and that resulted in conflicts.”
Angela’s outbursts were chaneled towards her family members as well and she realised she had unresolved anger management issues. Ms Sanjana helped Angela understand the consequences of her actions and gradually correct her behaviour.
At the same time, Angela opened up to Ms Heba regarding her lack of confidence and how it became a hindering obstacle in her academic and career aspects as well.
“I had poor presentation skills and my energy would drop when I was around a lot of people. I could not face people with confidence and it affected my demeanour.”
Both the counsellors worked with Angela to help her out of her issues and lead her towards a healthy and productive life.
Through Ms Sanjana’s guidance, Angela learned valuable techniques to manage her emotions and improve her self-assurance.
“Journaling and talking out problems with my partner, as well as breathing exercises for calming down, helped me regulate my emotions and think before acting on them. I started being calm and much more mindful about my outbursts.”
As for her confidence issues, Ms Heba encouraged Angela to step out of her comfort zone. Heba had her record videos of herself speaking, and watch them, which helped her overcome her stage fright and improve her presentation skills.
The positive changes in Angela’s life were evident to those around her. Her presentations were now being applauded, and she felt more confident in her abilities.
“A lot of people applauded my presentations, and it encouraged me to do better. After my presentation, I became very confident in myself and felt good about my skills.”
Reflecting on her journey, Angela is grateful for the support she received from her counsellors at YourDOST. She acknowledges that their guidance was instrumental in helping her navigate her personal and professional challenges.
“My counsellors helped me show me the way to success, and now I am the one who needs to do the work. I am grateful to both of my counsellors for being there for me without judgment and hearing me out at all times.”
Today, Angela rates her overall improvement as a 4 out of 5, and she envisions continued growth in her confidence and ability to move forward with clarity and purpose. Angela’s story is a powerful reminder that seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a courageous step towards personal growth and fulfillment. Her journey from self-doubt to
confidence inspires us to embrace the support we need, no matter the challenges we face.
We at YourDOST could not be more proud of her achievements and wish her the best in everything!
Angela’s Warrior Tips:
1.“No one should take mental concerns lightly. Nobody else would understand your concerns better than you, so seek help whenever you feel like it.”
2.“People still aren’t comfortable sharing things with a professional as it is seen as taboo, but if you have a chance of getting better, there is nothing wrong with going to an experienced person for advice.”
