serene_mindss

21/09/2025

Trigger warning: C@ncer

The past few months have been a complete blur of appointments and overwhelm. From learning the complexities of a diagnosis to facing the reality of my dad’s metastatic c@ncer, it’s been a journey on a roller coaster.

Some days have offered a little relief, but most are just a constant rush from one hospital department to the next. The emotional, mental, and physical toll is real. I’ve been so focused on keeping things moving that I forgot to breathe.

I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing support from my loved ones, but it’s time to take a pause and slow down.

This is a reminder to anyone out there in a similar situation: You can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s okay to take a pause for yourself.

21/06/2025

warning*

*The Unseen Strength: Cancer Caregiving and Self-Preservation*

Caregiving… Is it a responsibility, or a liability? While I’m navigating through the intense journey of caregiving for a cancer patient, I can tell you it’s profoundly challenging, especially when you’re the sole caregiver.

The demands are immense, extending far beyond the physical. The constant cycle of hospital visits, doctor appointments, lab tests, and managing medications leaves little to no time for respite. It’s not just about physical exhaustion; the mental and emotional toll can be overwhelming.

In India, while formal caregiver leave is often not an option, some organizations are stepping up with flexible work timings or adjustments in roles, offering much-needed support. However, even with this flexibility, being a caregiver is rarely “easy.”

When you may be shouldering the entire burden, burnout is a real and dangerous risk. You might find yourself losing interest in other tasks, experiencing constant irritation, or feeling a deep sense of frustration that spills into other areas of your life. This isn’t sustainable.

While caregiving for a loved one with a chronic illness may be an act of immense love and dedication, it’s equally crucial to prioritize your own well-being. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Here’s what I learned about taking care of yourself while caring for them:

☑️ Prioritize small breaks: Even 15 minutes of quiet time can make a difference. Step away, breathe, and reset.
Set reminders: set reminders for hospital visits so you don’t have to constantly worry about when to go next.
☑️ Digitize and back up medical records: keep the medical records readily available in your phone/emails as it may not be possible to carry all the records each time to visit your doctor.
☑️ Seek support: Sharing the load, even just by talking, can be incredibly therapeutic.
☑️ Be kind to yourself: Acknowledge that you’re doing an incredible job under difficult circumstances. It’s okay to not be okay sometimes.
☑️ Delegate where possible: Even small tasks can be shared. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
(Continued in comments)

26/03/2025

What if?

21/03/2025

Understanding

20/03/2025

The much awaited conferment ceremony at Tata Institute of Social Sciences. .she
The beginning of the course felt like, will I even be selected?
The journey to finally completing the Post graduate Diploma in Trauma focused therapy. Being fully immersed with work and having this course alongside, seemed extremely demanding and needed a lot of work and time into it.
And I remember while being enrolled in the course, everyday felt like a new learning. The course helped me learn and unlearn so many concepts and most importantly met and learnt amazing faculty members Sukanya Ray and Surpiya and my supervisor Gayathri Ma’am.
To the amazing bunch of my classmates who just helped one another with any difficulty anyone had.
Be it a doubt with an assignment or be it someone feeling overwhelmed by the process. It really felt extremely challenging and supportive at the same time.
Finally, receiving this degree is a lot more of learning and balancing work, academics and your personal life, it was a beautiful journey with some hiccups and transitions throughout. Reminding you that it’s one step at a time and you can get there.

05/03/2025

A session I facilitated with class XI students in .
The session began with a lot of questions, noise, uncertainty of who this new person is. The students seemed to be able be more attentive as we went through our ice breaking sessions and built some rapport.
As a guest speaker, it may feel like why should I spend time in rapport building and straight jump to the topic, however, when your cohort knows you and is able to trust you a little, you’ll see better responses and better communication.

01/03/2025

Hello
With a new month beginning, let’s look forward to what this month has to offer.

01/02/2025

what it means to each one of us ?
Sometimes a way of thanking our , sometimes expressing what we are feeling , sometimes to express a sense of gratitude and sometimes just to seek some support.
The of a same ritual may vary for each one of us.
With respect to all cultures and religions, What do mean for you ?
Is it when you’re in distress ?
Or is it everyday ?
Or is it for a pleasant moment ?
What are your thoughts ?

02/01/2025

Are you a mental health professional and looking for a supervisor to support you with your counselling work/cases?
Feel free to reach out to us for individual or group supervision sessions.

02/01/2025

With a new start to the year, wishing you all strength what the new year brings for you.
If you are considering to begin your therapy journey, we have opened slots for new clients.
Reach out for details.

29/12/2024

What makes some people unforgettable, their presence lingering long after they leave? Is it charm? Looks? A mysterious “it factor”? The answer lies in the intriguing science of attraction—a mix of psychology, biology, and behaviors that compel us to connect with others. Let’s unravel the secrets behind what truly makes someone magnetic.

First Impressions: The Science of Snap Judgments
Research shows that within seven seconds of meeting someone, we’ve already formed an impression.

A study by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov found that people judge trustworthiness, competence, and likability in fractions of a second.

Some times it’s just the basics of being able to communicate with one another.
Are you able to share your point of view.
It could be reflected as this person is “respectful” and I like respect.

Attraction can be such a subjective topic but shared above are some of the things.
What in your understanding makes someone attractive ?

Article contributions: “medium”

01/12/2024