Like a lily growing quietly in still waters, Divya is a 29-year-old introvert living in the bustling city of Mumbai.
Divya is originally from Delhi, where she spent her childhood in a loving home with her father, her only family and her strongest pillar of support. She explains that she admired his commendable job raising her as a single parent while working on his career.
“My father has played the role of both my father and my mother for me. He’s been my rock, always emotionally available, and I can talk to him about anything.”
Divya adds that her home has been her sanctuary, and in her father’s presence, Divya bloomed safe and supported. She spent much of her childhood deep in thought, observing life rather than rushing through it.
She elaborates that she used to be more grounded at home during her school life. It was only after she joined college that she started making friends and exploring new things. Through this journey, Divya says that she became someone who can build beautiful relationships with firm boundaries.
However, even lilies must eventually face new climates. For Divya, that shift came four years ago, when she moved to Mumbai for work. Though she embraced her independence in Mumbai, leaving behind the comfort of home and the familiarity of close bonds, living alone in a new city came with its own challenges.
She fell into a loop of loneliness, self-doubt, and the struggle of finding new connections as an adult. Despite having people around at work and social gatherings, Divya felt like an outsider, and the city felt like a whirlwind.
The efforts she put into making connections weren’t reciprocated, and she developed a quiet ache every night.
“There was this constant thought of why I didn’t feel happy; I had a good job, I was independent, but something was missing. I wasn’t sure what it was.”
Divya wanted to understand what was wrong, so she sought help from a professional. She discovered that her company provided 24/7 mental health support through its subscription to YourDOST.
“I’d heard of YourDOST before, so when I knew my company had a tie-up with the same platform, I decided to try it.”
She explains that opening up to a stranger wasn’t easy for her. As the platform was associated with her company, she had questions about privacy and felt intimidated to sit for her first session. She adds that it was her first experience with a counseling setup, so she felt confused about how it worked. Understanding her hesitations and confusions, the counselor calmly explained the confidential nature of the sessions to Divya and slowly helped her feel comfortable.
“My counselor made a conscious effort to make me feel safe, and assured me that the sessions would remain unbiased, non-judgmental and within us irrespective of any tie-up. That was a huge relief.”
The counselor also suggested that Divya keep her worries about the sessions’ structures and have free-flowing conversations. This helped ease her into opening up about her issues to the counselor. Over the weeks, Divya unpacked parts of herself she hadn’t understood before.
She started turning towards therapy like a lily leaning to the sunlight from under a dark shadow. Divya elaborates that it was only after sharing her thoughts with the counselor that she realised how chaotic her mind had been.
She says the counselor listened to her patiently, gave her space to speak, and slowly guided her to untangle those thoughts. In the few sessions, Divya discovered how things she didn’t considered to be a problem were bothering her subconsciously. She realised that she longed to be liked by everyone around her, which made her lonely.
As Divya felt discomfort uncovering this pattern, the therapy helped her see that needing validation wasn’t a flaw but a wound. She explains that although she had grown up strong and independent, she had started equating love with effort somewhere along the way.
“I used to think I had to earn my place in people’s lives by always being there for them. My counselor helped me see that I’m enough as I am. I started understanding the value of just being myself.”
She adds that the counselor also introduced her to journaling, which turned out to be an impactful tool. She wrote down her emotions, thoughts, and experiences like a descriptive emotional log. What started as a hesitant few lines turned into pages of self-reflection.
She started identifying what triggered her, which helped her understand her emotional patterns. She says the counselor helped with analysing the root cause of her triggers and the direct impact a situation has on them.
Even though it was a forceful activity initially, after some time, Divya naturally started reflecting on her feelings in every situation. When she noticed a mix of emotions associated with an issue, she eventually learned to identify the particular emotion that was the anchor and how to regulate it.
She says that therapy didn’t just help her manage her emotions but also helped her sleep better, build boundaries, and reflect more deeply. From chaotic, racing thoughts to clarity and calm, Divya found a way to take control of her inner world.
“Once I was clear about my thoughts and feelings, I had more control over my actions. The simple act of journaling had a long-lasting impact on my life.”
Divya elaborates that it became a habit even after 2 years, and she also revisits her old memories through the pages she has filled on the days she feels gloomy. That helps her remember the good times and pick herself up every time.
She expresses that the therapy sessions have changed her perspective about life and made her more accommodating of new things and experiences. She thanks her counselor for playing a significant role in those changes and helping her learn valuable lessons.
“The counselor was outstanding and helped me grow to a point where I no longer have to depend on any external mechanism. I feel a solid 4 out of 5 when feeling better.”
Divya has found her ground and grace like a lily that has learned to bloom even in unfamiliar waters. We are proud of her progress in finding her voice and strength through her resilient journey.
Divya’s Warrior Tips:
1.“It’s never always highs or lows. Life is a mix of both, and that mix is what makes it beautiful.”
2.“Believe in your instincts, and take that first step towards healing. It’s worth it.”
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