“All things are difficult before they are easy.” — Thomas Fuller.
Life can be a journey of turns and twists, but for 21-year-old Ananya Gupta, it has been a life filled with sports, travel, and personal discovery.
She was born in Gujarat, but her childhood was spent across India.
Her father’s job involved travel, which meant constant relocation throughout her childhood. She has lived in various cities across India, both remote and urban, and she is currently pursuing a degree at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bengaluru.
Growing up, she was extremely close to her family and continues to be.
“My parents understand many things, which I don’t even understand at that point in life.”
Ananya describes her personality as introverted, but that does not stop her from speaking about what she feels. However, she believes that this changed over time. She describes her early teenage years as being very extroverted.
However, moving to new places in her teenage years introduced new challenges. Transitioning into unfamiliar social circles took work.
“Suddenly, I had to make friends from scratch. It was like starting with a blank page all over again”.
During this time, the two things she found solace in were sports and books. She describes herself as a voracious reader. Her love for sports has also carried through her college life.
“For most people, sports drain them, but I feel the opposite. They make me feel alive.”
Ananya’s decision to seek therapy arose from her experiences at college. Without her family nearby, she felt isolated in what she described as a “hostile environment.”
“I’m straightforward, and not everyone likes that,” she explains. The pressures of forming new social connections and the competitive college environment left her feeling lonely and betrayed.
“I kept telling myself it would get better, but it didn’t,” she recalls.
Her college had a tie-up with YourDOST, so she sought help through the platform. She connected with one of the counselors, Ms Tulika Mukherjee.
She found her first few sessions with Ms Tulika incredibly helpful. She describes her as warm, empathetic, and supportive, allowing Ananya to open up.
Through their sessions, Ananya made progress in navigating the situations around her. Her counselor helped her understand what she could do daily to improve them.
“That was something to look forward to, giving me a purpose.”
To add to her progress, her friends were incredibly supportive, too. She says she never felt ashamed about reaching out for help. For her, therapy was a practical solution.
“It wasn’t about negative thoughts—it was about solving a problem.”
As Ananya focuses on these small steps daily to feel better, we at YourDOST are proud to be part of her journey. She thanked her counselors for being there when they did. Ananya rates herself as 4 out of 5 in terms of feeling better.
Ananya’s Warrior Tips:
1.“When facing a challenging situation, focusing on the effort rather than the outcome is essential. The result will come.”
2.“Taking the first step towards counseling can help improve your life.”
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.
