Ananyaa is a 22-year-old law student pursuing her BA LLB from Bennett University.
Born in Mumbai in a loving household with her parents and older sister, she describes her family bond as warm and unwavering.
“There was nothing to complain about; I always had a great relationship with my family.”
Ananyaa explains that she used to be someone who always preferred to be unhinged and prioritised her needs before anybody else. Ananyaa explains that she’s the closest to her elder sister, who is a therapist.
Her sister always made sure to keep her home supportive of her mental well-being. However, sometimes, the storms that shake us come from the outside.
Ananyaa experienced a life-altering event that left her emotionally overwhelmed. In the months that followed, she noticed subtle but powerful changes in herself. Her once fiery, bold personality gave way to a constant state of anxiety.
“I used to be unbothered, strong-headed, but slowly, all of that turned into overthinking and restlessness.”
Encouraged by her sister, she decided to seek therapy. She recollected a speech from Ms Richa Singh, the founder of YourDOST, who shared her motivation behind starting the platform, which left a deep impression on Ananyaa.
“She was confident and very inspiring, and her words felt genuine, like this was built to help people, not just make money. That made me hopeful.”
Ananyaa began therapy sessions with the available experts, and she adds that the therapists played a crucial role in her healing.
“They were so empathetic, just the way they listened made me feel safe. It feels like I was talking to a friend who truly cared.”
Ananyaa shares that her family was going through the same phase, and she couldn’t turn to them. That’s when therapy felt like her only space to breathe. What made the YourDOST platform stand out to Ananyaa was the chat-based SOS feature.
“My panic attacks usually came late at night, when no one was around, and the platform gave me the feeling that I always had someone. That made a huge difference.”
She recalls being scared that her tears would never stop, as she cried even during her college classes and between classes.
The counselor began with tools like journaling and deep breathing. As Ananyaa, something intense to help her with her anxiety issues, the counselor simple grounding tip that helped her enormously – touching ice.
“I was sceptical in the beginning. I even laughed when I heard it, but it worked. It helped me snap out of anxious spirals.
She elaborates that the changes in therapy and the activities she learned were almost immediate.
“I’d come out of sessions smiling. My family would wait to hear how it went. Even my mom would nudge me to book another session when I seemed low.”
Over time, therapy helped Ananyaa quiet her mind, be more present, and feel at peace, without needing anything around her to change. She explains that it gave her a sense of reassurance, and she began living in the moment.
As she feels more grounded, Ananyaa expresses gratitude to the counselors for helping her get there. She feels thankful to them for being there for her in odd hours and supporting her through these difficult times.
She rates herself 3.5 out of 5, and she continues on her journey to be more confident and emotionally stable. We are proud of her progress and wish her all the best for her future.
Ananyaa’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Let yourself begin when you’re ready. There is no fixed timeline for starting the healing process.”
2.“Even when nothing seems okay, trust that it will get better.”
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