Meet Shreyasi, a 27-year-old geologist from the City of Joy, Kolkata. An alumnus of IITISM Dhanbad, she works as a mining geologist in an opencast iron ore mine on a field assignment in Odisha.
Shreyasi’s childhood was different from most. Her parents separated when she was in the third grade, and her mother became the sole earner in the family. The initial years were tough; she remembers money being a problem, but watching her mother navigate life with courage inspired her to be fiercely independent and determined.
“I saw my mother being treated unfairly all through my childhood. I promised myself I’d stand on my own two feet and not let anyone make me feel small.”
Despite the turbulent circumstances she experienced while growing up, her focus on academics was unwavering. She even managed to secure admission in her dream institute.
The initial months were a breeze since she was finally getting to pursue a subject she had a deep interest in. However, she got into a relationship which turned out to be emotionally draining, the effects of which were further exacerbated due to the COVID lockdown and long distance.
“I found myself in a cycle of doubt, sadness, and low self-worth. I knew something wasn’t right inside me; I needed to talk to someone.”
That’s when she turned to therapy, thanks to her college’s partnership with YourDOST. Initially, she tried the in-person counseling center, but she found a deep connection with a therapist named Anita Eliza on the platform during the pandemic.
With her counselor, therapy wasn’t just about problem-solving. It was a safe space, a mirror, and a friendship. Shreyasi says she was never rushed; her therapist often went beyond the allotted time to ensure she felt heard. Over time, the therapy sessions helped her rebuild her sense of identity.
Ms Anita walked her through a few techniques that she could use to balance herself on a daily basis. These included exercises, where she would list her emotional triggers to help better recognise them in the future and journaling, which would help her deal with things when she felt overwhelmed.
“I began to understand that my interpretation of people’s actions was causing me more pain than the actions themselves”.
Today, she’s more confident, grounded, and building a healthy relationship. Whether it’s a tough career decision or personal conflict, she leans on therapy not as a crutch but as a way to reframe her thoughts.
“Nobody else has the power to make me feel small. If I feel bad, it’s because of how I choose to perceive things. That’s the shift therapy gave me. It helped look at the bigger picture in a much more positive way.”
She continues to advocate for therapy, especially for those who believe they don’t need it. She now rates herself a 4 out of 5 in terms of feeling better.
Shreyasi’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Don’t treat therapy like a taboo. Treat it like a conversation with your most honest friend, one who doesn’t judge or gossip, but just listens.”
2.“You may think someone else is the issue. But therapy helps you see how you’re interpreting things, and that’s where the power to change lies.”
3.“If you think you don’t need therapy to solve your issues, you should be the first to give it a try.”
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