“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.” – William James.
Change is a phenomenon that works best when started from the inside. When a person demands a change in his environment, they should ensure that the first step of the process begins from the. Here is a story of change that brought about waves of positivity in our protagonist’s life.
Aniket is a bright 22-year-old student attending the Integrated Master’s in Physics at NISER, Bhubaneswar. Originally from West Bengal, his life has always been about the love of learning and exploration, with a deep curiosity concerning the world around him.
“I have always enjoyed trying new things, be that reading a book or listening to a new genre of music. There would always be something new to explore.”
Aniket confesses that he enjoys reading books and writing poetry occasionally, which acts like a small, happy retreat from the rigid routine of academic life. However, behind this seemingly interested and knowledgeable countenance unfolds a very different story of struggle and willpower.
Aniket is a single child raised in a family that has always supported whatever he did. During childhood, his family parted from a joint family setup, so he had no good friends. However, his family was his support system.
“We’ve always had a good relationship. They supported me in every way-even when I chose an unconventional path like physics.”
However, Aniket’s academic ambitions have always remained strong due to adapting to new places. As a voracious reader, he went beyond the pages of textbooks and spilt over into non-academic subjects, nurturing his intellectual curiosity.
However, in the second year at NISER, life threw a twist, and Aniket faced a harsh reality. It was then that, for the first time at this point,
Aniket heard about YourDOST through his university, which had partnered with it as its official mental health partner.
In the second year, Aniket discovered something about himself that turned everything upside down. That he was queer, his feelings became a tide afterwards. He was unsure how to move forward and faced a dilemma in all aspects of his being.
“There were times when I felt worthless. I lost all my willpower to study. I couldn’t find a place for myself in anything I was doing.”
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It was a time of immense struggle. Aniket remembers having self-harm tendencies and feeling helpless and at the mercy of his emotions.
, but I came around
“I felt like I was free-falling, and nothing made sense.”
Fortunately, his close friends were around to catch him and guide him back into a place of relative stability. However, that feeling of worthlessness persisted and gnawed at him despite his academic achievements and the hard work he knew he was putting in.
His mother, a counsellor, gently convinced him to seek professional help. With the support of his family and friends, Aniket mustered the courage to embark upon this journey of healing.
Reaching out took work, even though Aniket knew he needed help. He met some counsellors and then started his sessions with Ms Anjana Vardarajan, and when she discontinued, he went on with his sessions with Ms Ahanaa Dutt.
“The first session was quite difficult. I needed to open up on personal things with an absolute stranger. It was hectic and challenging, but I came around the following days.”
However, his counsellor tackled the situation nicely with empathy and patience. Building rapport took some time, but eventually, Aniket opened up more, and they began forming a trust bond.
“I was feeling chaotic and like a void I couldn’t explain. It was all so haywire emotionally; I just didn’t know how to process anything. It was hard going to therapy at first, but I realised it was a place where I could try to explore my emotions free from judgment.
Aniket’s therapeutic journey was tailor-made. His counsellor followed CBT and helped him reorganise his thoughts, which guided him towards confronting these emotions rather than avoiding them.
Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about tailoring the process to fit the person’s particular challenge, and that’s what worked for me.”
In time, he learned to recognise subtle yet telling changes. The overwhelming self-contempt and the vulnerability that once dominated his life began to recede.
“It wasn’t a sudden shift. It was gradual, like lifting a veil of darkness one layer at a time. You learn how to deal with your emotions and face them.”
Aniket became better poised to deal with life’s challenges, and his resilient streak grew stronger. The confusion that marked his days gradually filled up with purpose and comprehension. He credits this new look to his counsellor and intends to use it while writing his thesis for the master’s degree.
“I’m deeply influenced by the lessons I’ve learned from therapy. My counsellor didn’t fixate on solving my problems for me, but she guided me in approaching them, which made all the difference.”
Today, Aniket rates his progress as a 3 out of 5. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step forward, and for him, that’s enough. The healing journey is long, but as Aniket’s story shows, it’s also profoundly worth it.
We at YourDOST are very proud of Aniket’s journey and wish him the best for the future!
