Just like in the movie, The Fault in Our Stars, the characters face personal battles and heartbreaks that seem neverending. However, in between all the chaos, they find strength and understanding through unexpected ways and show us that even the most challenging times can lead to growth and self-discovery.
Meet Rashi (name changed), a 24-year-old from Haryana. She is pursuing her bachelor’s at the World University of Design.
Rashi was a bit of an introvert from her childhood so she generally didn’t go out easily with people and found it hard to make friends. Her close-knit family included her parents, sister, and their beloved dog Jack, who provided a supportive environment during her childhood.
“Even though I was a silent kid, I cherished my family and cousins, hence creating a happy childhood filled with family bonds.”
Rashi first heard about YourDOST through her university, which partners with the organization as their official mental health partner. Here she was introduced to her counsellor, Ms. Sanjana Guha.
“Ms Sanjana was extremely sweet and attentive. She made me really comfortable and created a safe space for me to open up. Sanjana’s ability to see things from my perspective rather than just as a psychologist made a big difference for me.”
Rashi turned to therapy because her college life wasn’t going well, and she faced several personal issues with her confidence and self-worth. She felt overwhelmed and unworthy and struggled to handle her emotions.
“I wanted to understand myself better because I was constantly blaming myself for everything that was going wrong in my life.”
A major turning point was a breakup during her exams and the relationship ended because her partner cheated on her twice, which left Rashi feeling foolish and heartbroken. Seeing him with the other girl on campus daily just added fuel to the fire.
“I was struggling to focus on my studies, and I didn’t want my parents’ investment in my education to go to waste because of something trivial like a boy.”
Even though she had friends who truly supported her, Rashi decided to seek therapy to understand and help herself better. Ms Guha introduced her to various techniques to manage her negative self-talk and anxiety.
“One technique that she taught me was looking in the mirror and speaking positively to myself. She helped me understand how negative self-talk affects us similar to what a child would feel if he or she was constantly talked down upon.”
Rashi also started keeping a record of her anxiety triggers. This helped her identify her thought patterns and manage her emotions more effectively. This paved the way for Rashi to start journaling, which became a healthier outlet for her feelings.
“Through therapy, I experienced many positive changes as I began eating well, talking positively to myself, and expressing my feelings more healthily. I was basically happier compared to before.”
The breakup had initially strained all her relationships with friends and family, but therapy helped her reconnect. She started attending family gatherings, playing with her baby dog Max, and spending quality time with her loved ones.
“I couldn’t have a last session with Ms Guha but I made it a point to let her know my gratitude. She was the best thing to happen to me, and I could not thank her enough.”
In terms of feeling better, Rashi rated herself a solid five. She says that improvement means feeling confident in oneself and telling themselves that it’s okay.
Today, we are confident that Rashi is on her way to achieving even greater heights, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours!
Rashi’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Always remember that your worth is in your hands and not something that others can control.”
2.“If you’re going through something, please seek out counselling or talk to someone, but don’t isolate yourself as I did.”
