Imagine Frodo Baggins on his epic journey, burdened by the weight of the One Ring, yet he finds strength in unexpected friendships and inner strength. Life can often feel like an overwhelming adventure, filled with past traumas and emotional challenges, but with the right support and a bit of courage, we, too, can make our way through the darkest times and emerge stronger.
Meet Arshnoor Kaur, a 23-year-old student pursuing her BS-MS at the renowned IISER Tirupati.
Arshnoor hails from Punjab and is part of a small, loving family consisting of her mother, younger brother, and two adorable cats.
“I have a happy family back home and they all are very supportive. I love them all to the core.”
Arshnoor enjoys arts and crafts and has a deep love for music, even though she has never pursued it formally. Her passion for learning and creativity shines through in everything she does.
Arshnoor first heard about YourDOST from her university, which has a partnership with the organization as its official mental health partner. Here, she met Ms Rashmeet Kaur, who shared a common background, which helped Arshnoor feel more comfortable and understood.
“She’s from Punjab as well, and I specifically chose her because I wanted somebody who speaks the same language. When we speak the same language, we understand each other better.”
Arshnoor’s first impression of Rashmeet was positive. Initially, she didn’t know what to expect, but got good vibes from her. It felt that this was a good space to share things and that she was listening to her wholeheartedly. This helped Arshnoor open up her locked box of memories and began her journey of healing from the root.
Arshnoor’s parents divorced when she was very young and it was a topic that was never discussed in the family.
“At that time, things never bothered me because I was happy as a child and even as a teenager. However, as I entered adulthood and started college, I realized that the things I experienced in my childhood were surfacing as trauma.”
Her college life brought new social interactions and questions about her family and past, which triggered unresolved emotions. Arshnoor found herself oversharing and began feeling insecure, and struggled to form genuine connections. This was accelerated when her grandmother, whom she loved the most, was diagnosed with stage-four cancer during the pandemic and later passed away.
“Things got overwhelming and I could not handle them on my own anymore. I was not able to study or establish good human relationships and that’s why I felt that it was high time I needed some help.”
During her sessions with Rashmeet, Arshnoor learned to challenge her negative thoughts and beliefs. She had some preconceived notions that people were always thinking something specific about her, but her counsellor questioned each of these thoughts.
“I used to pick up a lot of things all at once and feel overwhelmed because I wasn’t completing any of them. She taught me that it’s okay to rest sometimes and that I don’t have to do everything so fast.”
Rashmeet also taught her grounding techniques and the importance of taking things one step at a time. Gradually, their sessions brought about significant positive changes in Arshnoor’s life.
“I felt very relaxed because my pent-up emotions were released after each session. I became more productive because my mind was focused on one thing at a time.”
Rashmeet also helped her learn to prioritise tasks and make decisions more effectively. Her therapist didn’t instruct Arshnoor on what to do but it was more of a teamwork where she asked questions, and they solved the doubts together.
Today, Arshnoor expresses immense gratitude for Rashmeet’s patience and understanding.
“I am immensely grateful to her as she always understood me and never judged my opinions. I started therapy in my second year of college, and now I’m starting my fourth year. In these two years, I’ve accomplished a lot as I came out of my shell and was able to do so much. It wouldn’t have been possible without her.”
In terms of feeling better, Arshnoor rates herself a 3.5 out of 5. She says that improvement means being in a better condition health-wise, like eating and sleeping better and being happy.
We at YourDOST believe Arshnoor is on the right path to hitting the golden 5 mark and wish her luck in all her future endeavours!
Arshnoor’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Therapy or counselling is not only for those on the verge of a mental breakdown but for anyone experiencing concerns mentally.”
2.“It’s better to get help as soon as possible, as delaying it can make problems bigger.”
3.“Taking help should be your choice, and it doesn’t concern anyone else but you.”
Are you someone who has gone through a difficult phase and emerged stronger and better, with some professional help? Share your story with us to encourage thousands of others who might be struggling. Click here to submit your story.
