“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” – Rumi.
This is the story of Arjun, a young-spirited 25-year-old who seemingly had it all together. He worked as a consultant specialising in customer excellence at Darwinbox Digital Solutions Pvt Limited and thrived professionally.
Arjun is a native of the beautiful state of Kerala and is currently settled in the busy city of Hyderabad for his work. Owing to his vibrant personality, he had a mixture of hobbies to follow, like sports, music, and maintaining his friendships when he wasn’t working. He often lost himself in the rhythm of his band, where he played instruments and occasionally sang.
As we are taught from an early age, family is the first school and the first pillar of support that one forms in life, and having some people who you call family is a blessing.
Arjun has a loving support system at home and a strong relationship with his parents, so his life appears harmonious on the surface. However, beneath this harmony, a silent storm was brewing, which led him to seek therapy.
During one of the most low points in his life, Arjun heard about the YourDOST mental health platform, which partnered with his workplace to provide mental wellness and support to employees. Talking to a stranger about his feelings was daunting, especially for someone like Arjun, who wasn’t very talkative.
“The thought of opening up to a complete stranger was confusing for me. I didn’t know how to move forward with it, and I was sceptical about the whole process.”
Despite his initial hesitation, Arjun decided to take the leap and seek support. It wasn’t easy, and the starting sessions with his counsellor felt strange as he struggled to express his feelings. However, gradually, he began to express himself more as his counsellor created a safe space for him, a sanctuary where he could speak freely without judgment.
“I started to overcome my fear of talking and slowly opened up.”
Life had thrown Arjun a curveball when his relationship, which was once filled with love and mutual respect, began to fall apart. His ex-partner, whom he had met during college, was someone he deeply trusted. It was a relationship of the dreams as it was balanced and supportive, where arguments were resolved quickly, and boundaries were respected, or so he thought.
However, things worsened when those boundaries began to blur, leading to an emotional betrayal that left Arjun shattered. His ex-partner herself revealed the infidelity she caused, and it was a confession that hit him like a ton of bricks.
More than anger, Arjun was engulfed in a deep disappointment in someone he believed and trusted so completely.
“It wasn’t just the betrayal. It was the realisation that someone you trust so deeply could hurt you in a way you never imagined.”
The pain was overwhelming, and it affected Arjun physically and mentally. From a vibrant and happy personality, he became more withdrawn. His usual coping mechanisms, like playing video games, indulging in music, and losing himself in sports, provided temporary relief but did little to heal the wound inside.
“The emotional turmoil even manifested physically, and I fell sick often. At one point, I remember thinking that even breaking a leg felt less painful than the emotional pain I was going through.”
Initially, Arjun was one of the many people who found it difficult to express themselves to a third person and embrace the positives of therapy. However, gradually, with the support of his counsellor, Arjun began to face and confront the emotions he had buried deep within. One of the first strategies she recommended was journaling, a way to track his thoughts and feelings.
Even though Arjun admits that writing wasn’t his forte and that he didn’t continue it for long, the mere act of putting his thoughts on paper was a small yet significant step toward healing.
The real breakthrough and improvement came when Arjun started expressing himself to those close to him. He began to see their struggles and pain as his own and provided them with the support they needed.
“I was never a consoling person, but now I can understand others better and empathise with their struggles.”
The feelings of anger and impatience were slowly and gradually replaced by a calm, understanding mentality, like how water gushes out first from a glacier, hitting all the rocks on the river bed and slowly finding its current in the valley. Arjun started to regain control over his emotions, finding a new strength within himself that he never knew existed.
Beginning from the hard days of heartache to the hope of a beautiful future, looking back on his journey, Arjun is filled with gratitude for his counsellor, who played a crucial role in his recovery.
“She helped me talk and express my emotions, something I struggled with for a long time. I am extremely grateful to her for helping me through the most difficult time in my life.”
Today, Arjun rates his progress with a golden 5. For him, improvement is not just about feeling better but about looking back and realising how far he has come. It’s about feeling proud of his journey from silence to strength.
Arjun has paved the way for all of us and shown us the power of patience and support, which can transform the toughest of the tough. We at YourDOST could not be more proud of his journey and wish him the best in his life!
Arjun’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Don’t push yourself too hard to get over it alone. There are people out there who want to help you, so reach out.”
2.“Find someone you trust and talk to them. It helps to let your emotions out rather than bottling them up.”
3.“Improvement isn’t about instant change. It’s about small steps forward.”
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.
