Akshaya (name changed) is a 25-year-old proud resident of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. She describes the city as her place of love. Her father often transferred around, so she has lived in multiple cities. Being an introverted single child and changing residences has always made it challenging for Akshaya to make friends.
Even as an adult, more than socialising, she prefers to spend most of her time indulging in artwork, dancing, and vlogging. The only person Akshaya feels the most comfortable with is her mother, whom she describes as her ‘idol’.
Akshaya likes to spend most of her leisure time with herself, engaging in self-care activities such as skin care and vlogging. She occasionally enjoys reading spiritual books like the Bhagavad Gita and Kalki Puran.
“I love vlogging, talking to the camera, and then editing the videos than doing professional designing. If I have a bar for happiness, doing these vlogs would be the happiest thing I ever do.”
Akshaya completed her undergraduate degree in Mumbai and moved to Bangalore to earn her Master’s in Design (MDes) from the National Institute of Fashion Technology(NIFT). Akshaya explains that moving away from the few closest friends she made in Mumbai and her partner was hard on her.
“My life was all set in Mumbai. The changes Bangalore brought, being in a long-distance relationship coupled with the academic workload, started troubling me mentally.”
Since her first semester, Akshaya has received newsletters from her college regarding their partnership with YourDOST. She tried to balance life independently, but after a few months, she started feeling unhappy. She immediately decided to book appointments and contact the experts on the platform.
“For almost four months, there was no moment where I felt any kind of happiness. All I could feel was anxiety. I knew it wasn’t in my control to control my emotions anymore and that I needed external help.”
She describes going on a ten-day trip with her loved ones and trying to speak with her partner, none of which made her feel content.
“My unhappiness went to such a great extent that even something that should have been exciting in my coursework started getting me very anxious. It was also difficult to explain to somebody as I didn’t want anyone to judge me.”
Akshaya took her first therapy session and explained that she felt heard talking to the counselor. She adds that she even spoke to her mother about it after her session as she felt excited about her new experience in therapy. The counselor’s gestures and affirmative words made Akshaya feel justified about her thoughts and emotions.
Akshaya explained that she felt comfortable sharing all her situations with the counsellor. She adds that she even spoke about her living conditions, which helped her gain clarity.
Being in a new city, she needed more mobility to go anywhere, and she couldn’t find a dance class that best accommodated her needs. Akshaya also shared her room in her hostel with three other people with whom she was uncomfortable, all of whom created a hostile environment for Akshaya.
“My counselor understood my issues concerning my privacy, and I finally moved out, which helped a great deal for my mental peace.”
Akshaya elucidates that once she felt validated by her counselor, she started to calm down and work on herself one step at a time. She describes that she finally felt whole after taking control of her emotions. Akshaya felt relieved every time she returned after her session as she could have an outlet in an open space.
Along with therapy, Akshaya’s counselor also asked her to journal her thoughts to facilitate her work on them. Eventually, Akshaya finished her course and moved back to Varanasi, close to her family.
Currently, Akshaya is freelancing and taking her time with herself. She is also preparing for the civil service exam as she navigates how to make her profession more creative and live away from the corporate lifestyle.
As she moves forward, she adds that she feels thankful to her counselor for listening to her proactively and making her college life slightly more comfortable by not letting her feel alone. She describes that even if it was momentary relief, it felt positive for her to share things, and she wasn’t even comfortable talking to her partner.
Akshaya rates herself 5 out of 5 in terms of improvement, which she considers making conscious decisions during life’s changes. We wish her all the best in her journey to peace and comfort.
Akshaya’s Warrior Tips:
1.“It is okay to feel emotional when things get complicated; it is normal and shows we are human.”
2.“Learn to say ‘no’ to society’s unrealistic expectations and always put yourself first.”
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