Shreya is a 23-year-old Life Sciences graduate from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela.
She hails from Kolkata, West Bengal, and Shreya describes herself as someone who is emotionally sensitive, deeply connected to her family, and still discovering her place in the world.
“I’m very close to my parents and grandmother. My father has been bedridden for a few years now, but we’ve always shared a strong bond.”
Growing up as an only child, she explains that she grew up in a loving environment. As a child, she remembers being very emotional, who used to panic easily, and was often self-critical. However, over time, Shreya saw herself mature and become more self-aware.
Shreya recalls how her mother juggled work and family, which inspired her to take on responsibility at an early age. However, when her father’s health declined, she was forced to grow up even faster.
Amidst all of these, moving to Rourkela for college was a significant shift for Shreya, bringing both personal and emotional challenges.
“That transition was challenging. I had never lived away from my family before, and I didn’t know how to handle people or situations.”
Dealing with emotional stress due to her father’s condition and her mother’s struggles, she felt like no one really listened to her. That’s when a friend who was already taking therapy suggested she approach the YourDOST platform through the subscription provided by her college.
She shared the fruitful experience she had with the experts on the platform with her. Shreya had never tried therapy before and wasn’t sure what to expect, but she decided to give it a chance.
“I didn’t really understand how therapy worked. Initially, I consulted a couple of counselors, and eventually I found someone I truly connected with.”
She began taking sessions with Ms Arya Kaushik and found her to be a calm and patient listener, patiently says that she never rushes her or interrupts her. That sense of being heard became a turning point in Shreya’s healing journey.
Shreya shared with the counselor the situation she was in, and her father used to be a comfort space. She adds that she used to always turn to him whenever she felt emotionally overwhelmed.
“My dad was a great listener, but with him being unwell and me in college, I didn’t have that anymore. My mother was under immense pressure herself, and I didn’t want to burden her.”
She expresses that she began to feel unheard. This emotional gap was what led Shreya to overthink, experience emotional stress, and feel confused about her future, especially during her final year, when she was preparing for PhD applications.
She was constantly stressed about her family, academics, socialising with new people and what lay ahead. She began waking up feeling anxious every morning, lost her appetite, and struggled with sleep.
To deal with all of these, the counselor gave her multiple tools. One of the most helpful tools Shreya learned was prioritising her thoughts and tasks through journaling. Ms Arya asked her to list out everything she was overthinking and made her colour-code and rank them based on urgency and importance.
That made her realise that she didn’t have to deal with everything all at once and that it was okay to feel whatever she was feeling. Another major challenge was emotional loneliness, especially in her final year.
“Most of my close friends had already left. I had people around, but I didn’t feel deeply connected to anyone. I often felt like crying, but the tears wouldn’t come. Once I started opening up in therapy, I finally felt some release.”
With guidance from her counselor, Shreya also worked on building consistent sleep and eating habits, and journaling became her safe space.
“Having someone listen to you without judgment was a huge relief. Ms Arya never made me feel like my problems were too small or dramatic. She reminded me that what I feel matters.”
As therapy helped Shreya build emotional awareness, set boundaries, and regulate her habits, she intends to continue on this journey. She thanks her counselor for helping her be someone who knows how to take the next step.
Shreya also suggested that her friends consider therapy and says fondly that all of them are making progress in their own spaces. She rates herself 3.5 out of 5, and we are delighted to see her improve every day. We wish her all the best.
Shreya’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Knowing what you are emotionally feeling is equally important as knowing the diagnosis of any physical health symptoms.”
2.“It is crucial to accept our situations and ask for help.”
3.“Take one step at a time; not everything needs to be solved in one day.”
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