“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”- Aristotle.
Knowing and understanding yourself better is the greatest knowledge one can have. Understanding your highs and lows and learning your worth can take you to heights. Seeking a helping hand to understand yourself better is the best step towards your well-being.
Shardul is a 22-year-old who recently graduated with a B.Tech in Electronics and now works as an Associate in Operations at UpGrad. Shardul’s journey to date is about overcoming personal challenges and a source of inspiration to many others.
Despite the challenges he came across in life, Shardul found solace in his hobbies. He loves to meditate, read, watch cricket, and socialise with people now.
Shardul’s family consists of his parents and grandparents. He shares a close bond with his grandfather, but his relationship with his father has always been strained.
“My dad has always tried to control me and impose his thought patterns on me, which was different from what I wanted for myself.”
As a child, Shardul was highly unsocial. Being an only child in a conservative family, he always felt his parents were overly protective, restricting his freedom to explore and express himself.
“I was timid and underconfident as a child, like an anxious little person. Growing up, I struggled to fit in and always felt like an outsider, which made social interactions daunting.”
Shardul first heard about YourDOST through his company, which partners with the organisation as their official mental health partner. Here, Shardul chose Ms Navya Kalra as his counsellor.
“I thought she was extremely knowledgeable. Despite believing I knew myself well, Navya provided extraordinary insights into my mind and body and helped me understand my core.”
Shardul sought therapy to address three main issues: mental maladaptive daydreaming (a condition that causes a person to lose themselves in complex daydreaming), a difficult breakup, and general anxiety.
“Daydreaming created a dissonance between the real world and my imagined world.”
Navya’s guidance on this issue was crucial. She suggested that instead of completely turning off the music he listens to, which triggered his daydreaming, he should reduce the volume by 50-60%.
This allowed him to stay connected with the natural world while still enjoying music, helping him break the habit.
“Another significant issue was a breakup that left me shattered from inside. I kept going back to my ex, even after being cheated on.”
Navya advised him to write down the negative aspects of his past relationship daily, helping him gain perspective and detach emotionally from the said person. This exercise allowed Shardul to move forward and heal.
For his anxiety, Navya suggested meditation and breathing techniques.
“I was used to meditating on my own, but the breathing exercises helped me manage my anxiety better.”
These practices provided him with tools to handle his anxious feelings and improve his overall well-being.
The positive changes in Shardul’s life were profound and evident in his personality and demeanour. He became more confident and social and developed a better self-image. Shardul felt more at ease with himself and others, and his anxiety reduced considerably.
“I am extremely thankful to Navya Kalra for helping me when I slid down the hell hole. Thank you for holding my hand and bringing me back. Your guidance has been invaluable.”
Shardul rates his improvement at 4 out of 5. He aims to become even more social, dynamic, and confident, believing that continuous self-improvement is key to achieving this.
At YourDOST, we are confident that Shardul is just moments away from reaching his full potential, and we wish him the best in all his future endeavours.
Shardul’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Always trust your abilities and keep learning or doing something new to stay engaged.”
2.“You can beat any situation. Walk with your chest puffed out and a smile on your face.”
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.
