Just as in the well-known movie, ‘Eat Pray Love,’ where Elizabeth Gilbert goes on a journey to find herself after a painful divorce, sometimes life pushes us to the edge, forcing us to seek healing and rediscover our true selves. Heartbreaks can leave us feeling lost and overwhelmed, but they also open doors to new beginnings and personal growth.
Meet Manjima (name changed), a 20-year-old Engineering student in her third year at IIITDM Kancheepuram. She’s also doing an internship while keeping up with her studies.
Born and brought up in Begur, Manjima has a good relationship with her family. They always listen to her problems and support her.
“I have always had a good relationship with my family, but as with any Indian family, they also tend to control the decisions in my life. They also push their own decisions on to me and I am expected to follow them without question.”
Manjima loves talking to people, and dancing and has a knack for writing Tamil poetry. These hobbies make her unique and happy.
Manjima found out about YourDOST from her college, which partners with the organization for mental health support. It seemed like the right decision for her at the moment and decided to seek therapy.
“My first impression of my counsellor was good and I felt better just by talking without expecting solutions. It made me feel comfortable and I felt heard for the first time.”
Manjima started therapy because she was emotionally hurt after a breakup. She wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend at home, so she couldn’t share her pain with her mom with whom she shared everything. She also felt she couldn’t tell her friends and felt completely alone after her partner left. She wanted someone who wouldn’t judge her and would listen to her concerns.
“I needed to talk without stopping and without feeling like I was bothering anyone. My friends would get irritated if I shared too much, and I felt like a burden.”
It was Manjima’s first relationship, and she didn’t expect it to end. When it did, it was too much for her. Her partner used to support her emotionally, and without him, she would break down in the middle of the night. This emotional strain showed in her appearance the next morning and people would question her.
“My partner used to handle my emotional concerns and without him, I felt lost. I needed someone to listen to me, not give me solutions. I just needed a shoulder to cry on.”
Through therapy, Manjima’s counsellor helped her work on her self-esteem and put herself first. She was told to think of herself as the main character in her life. Another technique was writing down her memories to push them into the past and out of her system.
“The impact therapy sessions had on me, can’t be measured, but I feel it inside. I’m more confident now and I prioritize my mental health and life over trivial things.”
Manjima felt very grateful to her counsellor and she wanted to say thank you after every session. The counsellor’s focus on making her feel like the main character made Manjima feel comfortable and connected with her.
“I would talk for 40-50 minutes straight, and she never judged me. Her kindness helped me heal faster.”
Manjima rates herself a 3 out of 5 in feeling better, knowing there’s still room for improvement. She sees growth as a continuous process and values having someone to talk to without judgment.
We at YourDOST believe Manjima will soon reach her goals and wish her the best in all she does!
Manjima’s Warrior Tips:
1.“When you feel low or depressed, believe in yourself more than anything and strive to get better.”
2.“Seek therapy even if others don’t appreciate it. It helps remove negative energy.”
