“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” – Ferdinand Foch.
Meet Suraj Kumar, a 24-year-old engineering service aspirant from Bargarh, Odisha, who is set on his way to fuel his soul with passion and determination.
He pursued his master’s in Technology, specialising in power systems from NIT Rourkela after finishing his B.Tech from the Government College of Engineering, Kalahandi. Suraj comes from a family of four, including his parents and elder sister; where his father is a farmer, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom.
Suraj recollects being close to his mom since childhood and explains that he was a naughty kid during school and often found himself in trouble. However, to his family’s surprise, Suraj grew up to be a humble, responsible, and studious person who discovered his passion for serving people in need.
“After my higher education, I was offered a private job but didn’t take them up. I realised my happiness lies in pursuing my dreams through public service, so I started preparing for competitive exams.”
Suraj occasionally indulges in playing chess, kabaddi, and cricket in his leisure time to unwind and refresh. While Suraj took on the journey towards achieving his ambitious ventures, he had to walk past the stairs of thorns during his post-graduate studies.
Suraj had always been someone who liked to keep things orderly and hygienic, but during his masters, he noticed certain compulsive behaviours in him. He elaborates that he used 10 to 15 minutes to wash his hands after every meal while everyone else took hardly a minute.
Suraj adds that he used to take an hour to shower, and he was constantly worried about contamination from everything he consumed and used. The issue became too stressful for Suraj.
“I was afraid and worried about everything I came in contact with. If anyone came close to my body, I used to get a flight response and feel extreme discomfort.”
He eventually went to a doctor and was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Suraj remembers being sad and frustrated, repeatedly questioning why this was happening to him. All of these started after his academic performance, and he felt he was wasting a lot of time due to these compulsions.
Knowing about his diagnosis, one of his professors suggested that Suraj seek professional help through their college subscription to the YourDOST platform. Suraj took his advice and connected with Ms Kashish Sharma and Ms Anjali Jain on the platform.
Suraj explains that during that phase, he was overthinking a lot and feared that was how he had to live all his life. He says that the counselors were sweet and friendly to Suraj and patiently explained to him that with simple, regular tasks, he could easily overcome this situation.
This gave Suraj a lot of hope, and he also felt comfortable seeing them be welcoming and empathetic. As the issue of OCD was getting rigorous and increasing each day, Suraj went to continuous and regular sessions. He met with the counselors four to five times a month so that he could work on the situation consistently.
The counselor gave simple tasks like reducing the time he washes his hands from 15 to 10 minutes, then gradually to 5 minutes, etc. To avoid the discrepancies in his mind, they also made him wait an hour after every compulsive action to let him understand how he felt about them.
Suraj says that the counselors also checked in with him about every progress he made in the following session. They gave him small changes to make every day and eventually built them up to a big difference in his behaviour patterns. He adds that they also motivated him throughout the sessions, which made him get through with the situation.
Eventually, Suraj recollects feeling positive and strong-minded. He could mentally prepare for his issues, and he also overcame his phobia about having people around.
“I have improved to a great extent, and I have found a way to deal with the situation. My counselors are like God to me. With their motivation, I overcame the OCD problem and also found my career goals.”
Suraj expresses that he is extremely thankful to them as he feels their valuable words made him become the person he is today. As he started working on his passion and career, he also suggested that everyone around him seek therapy when they go through a mental health crisis, as he stands as a living example of its effectiveness.
He rates himself 4 out of 5 and has grown to be mentally strong. While he continues to prepare for his exams of life, we wish him all the best for his adventures and hope to see him succeed in them.
Suraj Kumar’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Don’t overthink about compulsive behaviours, all of them are solvable with the right measures.”
2.“Your life is beautiful despite the issues you face; trust that.”
3.“When you sit for therapy, believe in them and follow through, you will see improvement.”
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.
