‘Face the new challenges of life’
| Date :13-Apr-2025 |
By RITA AGGARWAL
(Consulting Psychologist) :
Q. I am a 24-year-old student from Raipur. I have recently
moved away from home for the first time for work. Although
I am excited about starting this new chapter in my life, I feel
lonely and disconnected at times. I am facing trouble making
friends and often feel anxious in social settings. I spend most
of my time alone, scrolling through social media, which leaves
me feeling even more isolated. I have actually started to question whether I belong to this new environment or not because
this is affecting my appetite as well as I'm experiencing a lot
of mood swings. Can you please help me with this?
Ans. What you are experiencing is a common challenge associated with life transitions—particularly moving to a new place and
starting a new chapter. Feelings of loneliness, social anxiety, and
self-doubt are natural in such circumstances. These are not signs
of mental illness, but rather emotional responses to change and
uncertainty. Building social connections takes time, and it can help
to take small, manageable steps toward engaging with others. We
might also explore strategies to manage social comparison, set realistic expectations, and cultivate self-compassion. You may come for
a session since talking about these feelings can be beneficial in
management of your emotions.
SP
Q. I have a colleague who is a 42-year-old working parent.
She is feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life. She
is juggling between a full-time job, caring for two young children, managing household responsibilities and trying to maintain relationships with extended family. She often feels guilty
for not being able to give enough time to each role and constantly feels exhausted. Although she's not necessarily sad or
anxious, she describes feeling emotionally drained, irritable,
and as though she's ‘running on autopilot’. I really want to
help her as I fear all this is adversely affecting her health.
Ans. You are doing a great job by addressing the signs you have
observed in your colleague and wanting to help her out. This situation reflects symptoms of prolonged stress and burnout, which
are very common in individuals who carry multiple responsibilities. The emotional exhaustion, irritability, and feelings of inadequacy are signs that her health is being affected and she is unable
to manage it anymore. Small changes in routine and mindset can
help improve her well-being. Bring her for a session where we
can work on stress management techniques, boundary-setting, and
self-care strategies to restore balance and prevent burnout.
KS
Q. I am a 15-year- old girl. My parents are quite strict when it
comes to my studies and I have been consistent with my studies, but they keep demotivating me by saying things like “you’re
good for nothing”, “you can never go above average level”, etc.
I feel suffocated and feel like running away from my home. I
don’t feel like doing anything at all. Please help me!
Ans. I can quite understand your dilemma and how de-motivating
it can be for you when parents downgrade you and your good
efforts. I wonder if they at all realise how it impacts you when they
say such things. Probably, they might be thinking that they are
actually motivating you by pushing you forward. You should talk
to them and tell them how you feel when they talk like that. Do
not blame them or accuse them, but express your feelings in simple terms. ‘I feel hurt, de-motivated and upset when you say such
things’. Be honest about how it makes you feel. This might help
them understand your emotions and they might change their way
of looking at the situation.
By RITA AGGARWAL (Consulting Psychologist)
