A Story About Learning to Slow Down
Meet Meera.
Meera was doing well at work. She regularly completed her deadlines, answered messages late at night, helped her colleagues, and rarely said no when someone asked for help.
From the outside, everything seemed fine.
But inside, Meera was exhausted.
She started waking up thinking about work. Even after reaching home, her mind remained busy with unfinished tasks.
One evening, she realized that she had been sitting with her laptop for almost an hour without actually doing anything. She was tired, but her mind wouldn’t switch off.
That’s when Meera began asking herself:
“Am I managing my responsibilities, or are my responsibilities managing me?”
Understanding Her Stress
Meera initially believed that stress was simply part of having a job.
But she gradually noticed some warning signs:
- Constant overthinking
- Difficulty relaxing
- Poor sleep
- Irritability
- Feeling emotionally exhausted
- Difficulty concentrating
She decided to speak with a mental health professional.
Through counselling, Meera began understanding her stress triggers and the habits that were keeping her overwhelmed.
What Helped Meera?
She didn’t change everything overnight.
Instead, she started with small steps.
- Setting boundaries
She stopped checking work messages immediately before going to sleep.
- Prioritizing tasks
Instead of trying to complete everything at once, she identified the most important tasks for the day.
- Taking short breaks
She began taking brief breaks between demanding tasks.
- Practicing relaxation
She incorporated simple breathing and relaxation exercises into her routine.
- Communicating her needs
She learned that saying “I can’t take this on right now” did not make her irresponsible.
- Seeking support
Most importantly, she stopped believing that she had to handle everything alone.
What Can We Learn From Meera’s Story?
Stress management doesn’t necessarily mean eliminating every stressful situation.
Sometimes, it means learning to recognize your limits, change unhelpful patterns, communicate your needs, and develop healthier coping strategies.
Everyone’s experience with stress is different. What works for one person may not work for another.
When Counselling Can Help
If stress is affecting your sleep, emotions, relationships, work, or everyday functioning, talking to a mental health professional can provide support and guidance.
You don’t have to wait until you feel completely overwhelmed before asking for help.