All of us as people have come across the nervousness attached to the ‘first day at college’ at some point in time. While moving out of home, and focusing on ourselves, lifestyle, and career, the new taste of being independent can all be new but also comes with mixed feelings. This change is called transition and it also means that we are breaking out of our comfort zone.
23-year-old Indira (name changed) was going through similar emotions. She is a B.Sc Psychology student from the esteemed KREA University and was born in from Calcutta and her family is from different parts of the country.
She mentioned that she is somebody who engages in deep thinking patterns and enjoys observing and reasoning rather than having an objective/generic opinion. Her family is very close to her and they make sure to always be in touch even though she works in Mumbai and is now away from home.
Growing up she was well-behaved, not stubborn or picky with food and grew up in the constant nurturing of her family. Indira expressed that as a part of her hobbies, she started cycling and enjoys archery.
While things were slowly shaping up for her in her life, Indira articulates that she saw her getting swamped with college assignments and academic stress, which affected a lot of her free time and she understood that she needed somebody to just guide her at this juncture.
She went through pangs of anxiety that started taking a toll on his social life too. This went on for some time until she decided to get help from a professional counselor. Following this, she reached out to YourDOST as her college had a subscription with the organisation for their students as the emotional wellness partner.
“I booked my first session with Ms Kousalya from the platform and we bonded instantly.”
Indira was able to discuss all her concerns with her counselor effectively and this helped her start managing her emotions well.
As she is somebody who is aware of psychology as a student she started feeling that the academic stress got to her. It affected her sleep and she was also away from home and would end up throwing tantrums.
“My friends were also away from home and I did not wish to overburden them with my trouble.”
Indira was clear that these were things to be discussed only with somebody who is a professional as she also saw her friends going through the same situation.
“Kousalya and I had a good bond and she would always be there to listen to me when I just want to vent out. Extremely patient in listening and I was able to freely express how I felt. Questioning myself and staying, in reality, helped me see the person I am.”
The counselor helped Indira stay in touch with her reality, which further helped her understand the importance of communication and its impact on his daily life. She was suggested to start identifying the thoughts she gets to understand their core reason.
She also suggested she take time to do things Indira likes especially if it’s something monotonous. Shopping vegetables is one such example and starts her day by understanding how prioritisation works.
She mentioned that even if a person does not relate with you always just having them around is so powerful and that’s what Kousalya gave her.
On learning more about herself, she also learned to appreciate her surroundings and herself more. Through therapy, she felt better and more comfortable going to college. Today, she is grateful to his counselor for bringing back her courage and supporting her at her lowest point.
When asked about her thoughts on therapy, Indira does not want anyone to be afraid of seeking help. She says, “Don’t be scared to ask for help from a counselor. It is beneficial for you.”
And while she builds back his courage through counseling, we’re proud of Indira’s take on seeking help and the journey attached to it and she has rated herself with a ⅘ in terms of feeling better post-therapy.
Indira’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Therapy is not Quick-fix. It is a continuous and consistent process. Therapy is like a thing to do and it’s like a food for the soul.”
2.“Go out in the social set-up, expose yourself to others and build good bonds. ”
3.“Reach out to professional help even if it means ranting.”
