Gujarat is a vast and diverse land, ranging from seasonal salt deserts to semiarid scrublands. It is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and, of course, its delicious cuisine.
Our warrior, Gautam (name changed), aged 32, hails from Vadodara, Gujarat. After completing his engineering, he pursued an MBA from Xavier School of Management.
Gautam shares a strong connection with his father and mother. Like any other relationship, theirs has had its challenges, but overall, things have been excellent within his family.
Gautam’s upbringing marked the freedom to explore and learn on his own. At the tender age of 10, he embarked on a bold journey, leaving the familiarity of his hometown to attend a boarding school, driven by his desire for quality education. This formative experience would shape his character, honing his independence and academic excellence from a young age.
“I spent six years in a boarding school. Though six years may seem brief, it was a significant period for me. During my time there, I underwent substantial personal growth and gained a fundamental understanding of life. It was a period in which I learned to navigate the challenges of independence and self-discovery.”
Despite his enriching experiences, Gautam struggled emotionally due to the challenges of loneliness and difficulty forming connections. He found himself grappling with self-doubt, overthinking, and a profound sense of emotional turbulence.
“I had a difficult childhood, and the emotional baggage from it was causing issues in my present. This made me realise the importance of clearing my emotional burden.”
The weight of past traumas, intertwined with academic pressure and post-placement anxieties, created a perfect storm that gradually began to take a toll on his well-being.
“I was going through some sort of trouble, was under tremendous pressure of academics. The transition in shifting from a college to a working organisation posed difficulties.”
The challenges Gautam faced added layers of stress to an already precarious situation, exacerbating the emotional turmoil he was experiencing. Our past experiences have a significant impact on our present lives, and Gautam’s past experiences of loneliness and low self-esteem made his situation difficult.
Unfortunately, he had not addressed these emotional issues, and they came back to haunt him in the present.
“I had been aware of this problem for many years but did not take any action to resolve it. As the issue escalated, I sought help from experts.”
Gautam was fortunate to have access to counseling services from YourDOST, as YourDOST had partnered with his college to assist those who faced difficulties mentally or emotionally. His decision to step up and seek help proved to be a game-changer.
Gautam began his counseling journey with Ms Kanishka Ishrani. Her initial impression created a comforting and safe space for him to share his emotions and speak with confidence.
“Ms. Kanishka Ishrani was empathetic and attentive to my emotional difficulties, without judgment. This strengthened my resolve to improve myself.”
Ms Kanishka recommended exercises and emphasised staying present and not escaping to a made-up world. Journaling helped narrow down his thoughts and get him back to the present. The practice of journaling became a powerful tool for Gautam to unpack his thoughts and redirect his focus to the present moment.
By penning his thoughts and feelings, he untangled his mental knots and gained clarity, eventually bringing him back to the here and now. Journaling was like a compass guiding him through a sea of thoughts back to the shore of the present.
“If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.”
Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Gratitude permeates Gautam’s account as he reflects on the profound impact of Kanishka’s guidance.
“I’m thankful to Ms Kanishka Ishrani for working together and helping me rebuild myself and grow stronger. She helped me untangle my issues which comforted me. I’m grateful for coming across the YourDOST platform.”
Gautam’s transformational journey made him understand the root cause of his emotional whirlwind. Anxiety was not the only trigger, but the past emotional trauma was creating an emotional imbalance. Slowly and gradually, with YourDOST’s support, he learned to strike a balance to manage it better.
Gautam believes in continuous learning and rates himself 3 out of 5 in terms of getting better post-therapy. Constant learning is a lifelong journey, and Gautam’s dedication is inspiring.
Gautam’s Warrior Tips:
1.“People make a facade when it comes to mental health. Taking benefit from platforms like YourDOST is always recommended.”
2.“It takes a lot of courage to talk about your mental health and your journey, so you need to be confident about it.”
