Pooja is a 24-year-old graduate from Bennett University. She has completed her undergraduate studies in BBA LLB.
She comes from a family of six, which includes her parents and three siblings. Till a certain age, Pooja lived in a joint family along with her father’s siblings before shifting to a nuclear family. Pooja had always considered her school her second home, as she had formed great relationships with the people there.
From the vibrant lanes of Kerala to the structured halls of law universities, Pooja’s journey has always been anything but static. She had always loved travelling and taken an active part in school tours to soulful vacations.
Pooja is currently a practising advocate who is confident, articulate, and outwardly extroverted. However, behind her bright demeanour was a quiet emotional overwhelm that she carried with her for years.
“I’ve always been an extrovert surrounded by people, involved in activities. I didn’t realise how much of myself I was giving away to socialising, even when it hurt, as I eventually became a people pleaser. ”
She explains that she reached a point where she realised she needed professional help. Mental health wasn’t unfamiliar to Pooja as she had been visiting psychologists since school. Her mom would take her to a therapist, just like a regular doctor’s appointment, because her family understood the importance of mental health checkups, just like physical ones. Hence, it was never taboo for her.
That openness eventually led her to discover the YourDOST platform through a university email during her college years.
As part of the Girls’ Health Club at Bennett University, Pooja decided to try the platform herself first before recommending it to others. What began as a personal experiment evolved into a trusted source of support.
“I had a lot of issues with friendships, with the emotional baggage that came with losing connections, and navigating toxicity. The sessions became a good place to deal with these.”
She recalls that her first counselor never tried to fix things for her; instead, she just listened, asked the right questions, and helped her understand her patterns. With every session, Pooja grew more self-aware.
As she moved through her academic and personal life, Pooja continued using the platform, switching counselors as needed. Her sessions addressed even deeper issues, learning to identify when people were becoming unhealthy, and finally, permitting herself to walk away.
She began to question how she communicated, how much she gave away in friendships, and whether the people around her were respecting her boundaries.
“My counselor never provoked me and suggested that I give up on the relationships I have with people. Instead, she just made me see the core issues and helped me work through them.”
She admits that letting go is hard, but therapy helped her understand why she wasn’t able to do it and move forward. She began to resonate with her inner self and accepted that not everything was her fault. This helped her be gentle and kind with herself.
Through her journey, one lesson kept resurfacing: not every burden is hers to carry.
“It took me time to accept that there are always two sides. I don’t have to own every conflict.”
Pooja continues to dip into the YourDOST platform whenever she feels overwhelmed and thanks her counselors for their continued support. She appreciates the option of ‘instant chats’ available on the platform during dire moments, as well as the connection that the experts showed despite the odd hours of the sessions.
She adds that living in a generation where everything is instant and where people’s attention shifts every minute, these innovations are extremely helpful in coping.
“I might not use it every month, but knowing it’s there is comforting. The fact that someone listens, without judgment, in the most emotionally down moments, that’s powerful.”
In her own words, therapy gave her the language to navigate her emotions and the courage to prioritise her well-being.
As she rates herself 2.5 out of 5, she intends to continue working to ensure she feels content and happy. We hope she reaches wherever she desires to.
Pooja’s Warrior Tips:
1.“No matter what, the answer is never zero, so don’t give up and experience everything.”
2.“Even if things feel irreversible, don’t give up. Talk to someone you trust.”
3.“What’s wrong for someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you.”
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