Priyankachandran is a 28-year-old Senior Product Designer from Entri. Originally from Trivandrum, Priyanka relocated to Cochin six years ago for her career.
She comes from a nuclear family and has been the only child to her parents. She got married four years ago and lives with her loving partner.
Since childhood, Priyanka has been a creative person who loves sketching and painting. She had always been someone fascinated by the colours, and her favourite trips are to the stationery stores.
Priyanka shares that she channelled her passion for creativity and also started a small stationery store where she curates beautiful calendars and other handmade goods. However, in late 2023, completing a calendar project for her business left her feeling mentally and physically drained.
Due to this constraint and holding personal responsibilities, Priyanka had a severe burnout. She couldn’t focus and felt like she was constantly on edge.
“I couldn’t even think about drawing something and avoided entering my studio. Adding to this, I kept experiencing back-to-back health issues, my mother-in-law had a major surgery, and I got promoted at work. It was too much to balance.”
She recollects how she could even celebrate her promotion due to the chaos in her mind. She felt angry with herself for being helpless and confused. Eventually, the anger turned into a prolonged sadness that she just couldn’t shake off.
Considering everything, Priyanka decided to take a break from her business and focus on her well-being. Recognising that the exhaustion cannot be fixed just with rest, Priyanka turned to the mental health support offered by her workplace through YourDOST.
It was her first time seeking therapy, and although she was nervous initially, she knew it was the right step. She connected with an available counselor, and that marked the beginning of a meaningful journey toward healing.
She found the counselor to be a fantastic listener, and Priyanka elucidates feeling seen and heard. She adds that it was something she had longed for a long time, and receiving it felt unexplainable to her.
“Sometimes when things get tough, you just want somebody to listen, and since I was in a new city, I didn’t have enough friends. I had a lot of marital adjustment issues as well, and therapy started giving me a good perspective.”
Priyanka felt that the counselor acknowledged her emotions, and she trusted that the sessions were a blessing in disguise. She began feeling relaxed after every session, and the counselor also helped her take one day at a time.
As the sessions began to be her safe space, the counselor and she explored various techniques to deal with her situation. Priyanka explains that they were simple yet effective tools that helped her reconnect with herself.
Techniques like square breathing, gratitude journaling, and emotion tracking helped her slow down and analyse her feelings instead of suppressing them. The therapist sent her videos and articles to help her get a better idea of the meditation practices. These learnings also helped her understand how to respond rather than react in stressful situations.
She was also taught how to weigh the pros and cons of a challenging situation. Priyanka adds that one of the most impactful practices she learned was how to set boundaries, both at work and in her personal life.
“I realised I was overextending myself in many ways. Therapy helped me see the importance of saying no and protecting my peace, and untangled a lot of things in my head.”
Over time, Priyanka noticed a gradual but profound shift in her mindset. She no longer viewed rest as laziness, but as a necessary part of her well-being. The guilt that once accompanied taking a break began to fade.
She started drawing again, not for productivity or performance, but simply because it brought her joy. She thanks her counselor for helping her change her perspective and making her feel valued and blessed.
“I’m not saying everything is perfect, but I’ve become a lot more compassionate with myself and I’m learning to listen to my body and mind without judgment.”
As Priyanka continues to use the lessons from therapy to manage her mental health, she continues her journey towards self-care. While she acknowledges that healing isn’t a one-time event, she feels much more grounded and resilient than she did a few months ago.
She rates herself 3.8 out of 5 and tries to improve every day. We are happy for how much Priyanka has embraced herself and the idea that it’s okay to pause. Her story is a reminder that sometimes, slowing down is the most powerful way to move forward.
Priyankachandran’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Therapy is not just for when things fall apart. It’s for understanding yourself and navigating life.”
2.“Pay attention to the good things that we easily miss in our fast-paced lives and be grateful for them.”
3.“Feel your emotions completely and don’t hold back.”
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