“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
When a particular situation unveils itself in life, that can be heartbreaking or shocking, the incident tends to seep into the other factors of life without us even realising them. Similar to how a drop of colour slowly falls into a tub of water and tends to colour the whole of the water, sometimes the aftereffects are inevitable in life. With the proper support and guidance, we can make our way out of these situations with ease.
Bhaskar (name changed) is a 25-year-old professional from Delhi working at Clootrack.
He graduated from Delhi University and his days are filled with coding, teaching, and self-discovery.
Bhaskar’s childhood was a mix of warmth and academic excellence. He stayed in Noida, attending the same school until class 12th, where he excelled and graduated as the school’s topper and head boy.
“My childhood was pretty good. I scored the highest in my school, which felt like a big achievement. I also played handball and basketball for my school team, which always filled me with zeal. I also played tons of video games in my spare time.”
In college, he immersed himself in British parliamentary debates, a passion that helped him direct his creativity while pursuing a Bachelor of Science. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he joined Accenture, where he worked for two years.
His family, consisting of his mother and two elder sisters, have been his pillar of support, even through the excruciating experience of losing his father to COVID-19 in 2021.
He first heard about YourDOST through his workplace, which has a partnership with the organisation as their official mental health partner.
Bhaskar’s first impression of his counsellor, Ms Sudipta Mitra, was cheerful and encouraged him to continue sessions.
Bhaskar’s primary reason for turning to therapy was to untangle the baggage of grief and depression he carried from his father’s untimely demise and, more importantly, become a better person for his family and his then-partner. This incident was a turning point in his life, which made him question everything else.
“I love my family, but after losing my father, it felt like a major chunk of me went with him, leaving me emotionally crippled. It rendered me incapable of showing and recognising emotions for the people I love.”
This tragic event led Bhaskar down a path of seeking mental health support. After his father passed away, Bhaskar consulted a psychiatrist, starting medication to manage his grief and depression.
“I realised after several years that the medication helped me stabilise, but it never helped me solve problems related to my mental health. I wanted a deeper understanding of my emotions to fix myself and, with it, my relationship, so I turned to counseling.”
He hoped that therapy would help him repair his relationship but soon discovered that his partner was unfaithful. The person for whom he was planning to relocate to a new country and dreamt of having a house on the shores of Moraine Lake next to the Blue Mountains was suddenly with someone else. It was a daunting reality that reopened old wounds. This realisation shifted the focus of his sessions with Sudipta.
“Sudipta helped me understand my emotions and feelings. I realised that without the sessions, medication would just make me numb.”
The therapy sessions allowed Bhaskar to vent and explore his feelings. Bhaskar struggled with emotional control and often felt overwhelmed with various feelings and emotions.
“Things were pretty dark and gloomy, but I found more clarity and stability with each session. There were definitely some sessions where I felt nothing was changing, but I realised the importance of these sessions in helping me process my emotions.”
During therapy, Bhaskar learned various techniques to manage his stress and anxiety. Journaling was one of the first things Sudipta, his counsellor, suggested. Although he needed to be more consistent, he found value in the practice.
Sudipta also recommended completing worksheets to reflect on past achievements and future goals and practising Jacobson’s relaxation technique, where a group of muscles are tightened and then slowly relaxed to induce calmness.
“Sudipta’s sessions were very interactive. She would narrate scenarios to help me relax and was very patient, helping me navigate through my thoughts without facing the brunt of overthinking.”
These techniques and Sudipta’s guidance helped Bhaskar navigate his emotions better. She helped him recognise the source of his anger and sadness and suggested techniques to clear his thoughts. Sudipta’s words and insights had a lasting impact on Bhaskar.
“Certain things she said stuck with me. For example, she taught me that it’s unnecessary to be completely ready for something before moving on to the next stage.”
This advice helped Bhaskar balance multiple aspects of his life simultaneously. Today, he is grateful for Sudipta’s support and reflects on his journey.
“I realised that my emotions matter, and therapy allowed me to share my problems, identify them, and work on them. I’d like to thank Sudipta for all her help.”
Bhaskar rates himself as 4 out of 5 in terms of feeling better and envisions improvement as breathing in one’s skin without feeling uncomfortable.
We at YourDOST are confident that Bhaskar is on his way to achieving his goals and wish him the best in all his future endeavours.
Bhaskar’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Understand that working on ourselves is a lifelong project.”
2.“Milestones can occur parallelly in our lives; we don’t have to wait for one thing to be perfect before starting another.”
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.
