“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
This quote is true for many of us when we face significant life changes. Leaving familiar surroundings and stepping into the unknown can be daunting, but it’s often where we find our greatest growth.
At 28, Shishir, a research scholar at GIM Goa, made a life-changing move from Indore, Madhya Pradesh to North Goa. It was his first time living away from his family as he made a leap for his career and personal development.
“Moving to Goa was initially tough and when COVID hit, I felt extremely isolated both socially and professionally. Cultural differences in my upbringing and the environment at the university and having no one to understand my situation made things worse.”
In the beginning, Shishir managed with his mother’s company during the COVID lockdowns. However, post-pandemic, things changed. His friends left the organization, and he shifted to a full-time research program.
“I started as a teaching associate and later became a research scholar. But as my friends moved on, I felt more alone as being both a staff and a student made it hard for me to connect with others.”
To cope with the stress at work, Shishir tried taking breaks and travelling, but the sense of loneliness remained.
“I read about workplace anxiety and loneliness. It was comforting to know I wasn’t alone in feeling this way.”
Shishir first heard about YourDOST from his university, which had partnered with the platform to support mental health. He reached out to Ms Priyanka, a counsellor at YourDOST when he started struggling with various challenges.
Shishir juggled coursework and research in his PhD programme. The initial phase kept him occupied but he later struggled to maintain a routine.
“Even with classes, I found socialising or sticking to a schedule hard.”
His counsellor suggested simple activities like journaling. Shishir recorded daily audio summaries and kept his study space tidy. He started working on himself every day to see changes in his demeanour.
“Walking and swimming also helped me stay grounded and not overthink about my situation. In college, especially in Goa, drinking is common so I turned my mindset into collecting liquor bottles rather than drinking which helped me better.”
With his counsellor’s help, Shishir set rules for drinking and monitored his habits. Gradually, the urge to go out and drink reduced drastically and he became more distant from the habit.
“We agreed on specific days to go out and set mindful drinking practices. I learned how thoughts and coping mechanisms work and realised I wasn’t overthinking but just needed to be more aware of my daily choices.”
Shishir learned to think positively and stopped blaming himself for things he couldn’t control. Therapy taught him to stay optimistic and not let others’ perceptions affect him.
“My counsellor walked into my life when I needed her the most. Her dedication was incredible and extremely commendable. It took me a few sessions to open up, but the comfortable space she created for me, made all the difference.”
Shishir rates his progress at 4 out of 5 and continues to work with YourDOST on areas that need improvement. Shishir’s journey is a testament to how the course of life can be given a sharp turn with sheer dedication and courage.
We believe Shishir is on the path to achieving his goals and will succeed in it very soon. We wish him a speedy healing and the best of luck for his future!
Shishir’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Trust your abilities, especially when you feel down.”
2.“Learn new things to keep negative thoughts away and feel the rush of learning something new.”
