“Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.” – Unknown.
We all carry the weight of our pasts, and it often makes us who we are today. Difficult childhoods, family conflicts, and personal struggles can leave lasting marks. Yet, our true strength lies in our ability to heal and move forward. It’s about finding the courage to confront our pain, seek help when needed, and work towards a better future.
Meet Archita Mondal, a 28-year-old senior PhD scholar from IIT Dhanbad and she hails from West Bengal.
“My grandparents took me in because my parents were working individuals and my mother was struggling to balance childcare, a demanding career and household responsibilities. So I was raised by my father’s parents since I was very young. They attended to my schooling and daily needs with utmost care.”
Archita’s childhood wasn’t easy as her grandparents were caring, but later her parents insisted that she return to them, which she resisted as she felt responsible for her grandparents by then. This fuelled the already existing family conflicts.
Her younger brother stayed with her parents, and she regrets missing out on growing up with him. Meanwhile, her grandparents were growing old, and she couldn’t take care of them all by herself as she had to pursue higher education away from home. After persistent requests to both her parents and grandparents, they eventually agreed that her grandparents would temporarily reside at her parents’ home.
“Since I am a literature scholar, I love to read. I also indulge in visual media, like movies and series, and I listen to music all the time.”
It was during her college years that she learned about YourDOST, the mental health partner of her institution. Here she met her counsellor, Ms Titli.
“The first session was mostly me telling her about my current situation. It took a few sessions before I opened up about my family issues, but Ms. Titli was a patient listener.”
Archita admits to having been struggling most of her life. She always saw herself as a strong individual because she handled many challenges from a young age. However, after facing new difficulties at the institute like issues with her former supervisor, experiencing delays in her work, navigating relationships, coping with an unhealthy workplace environment, and managing her relationships with friends, she realized that anxiety, sadness, lack of motivation, and procrastination were growing on her, and she needed help.
“Among all these concerns, I also faced a separation in my relationship which accelerated everything else.”
Ms Titli encouraged her to communicate more openly and look for ways to improve her well-being. Archita was already searching for meditation apps, exercise routines, and other self-help techniques to take better care of herself.
“I was motivated to make my life better and therapy provided an additional support system that helped me navigate challenges more effectively.”
While therapy didn’t completely change her life, it brought significant positive changes. Archita learned to go with the flow and handle things better. Ms Titli’s understanding, patience and non-judgemental outlook made a significant impact on her journey towards an overall improvement.
“Ms Titli is a great person and helped me a lot. The fact that my counsellor was also Bengali made it easier for her to understand me, as there were fewer cultural and linguistic gaps. I used to rant for hours, and she was very patient. Having someone willing to monitor my progress helped me become more productive and stay committed to my goals.”
In terms of feeling better, Archita rates herself a 4 out of 5. For her, improvement means handling things better. Her journey has been a testament to the power of seeking help and the importance of self-acceptance.
We believe Archita is on the path to achieving her Golden 5 and wish her all the best in her future endeavours!
Archita’s Warrior Tips:
1.“We do not know what a person must be going through, so being kind to yourself and others will help your mental well-being.”
2.“Learn to forgive yourself and let go of the things that do not serve you.”
3.“Practise mindfulness. A lot of problems persist only in our minds. Don’t let your troubles take away the little joys of life.”
