The MyndStories Podcast MyndStories

Socializing can be great -  it can help build connections, it helps you learn from different perspectives and it can help take your mind away from a bad day. 
It can also be challenging, especially if you go through social anxiety because it can force you to face your imperfections. If you’re unable to be comfortable in your own skin, things can spiral downwards very quickly because people are bound to judge and attaching your self worth externally is never a great idea. 
How do we work through this? We understand more in this episode with Pranav Varma.


We discuss
What social anxiety feels like and where it stems from.Pranav’s journey of dealing with social anxiety.Navigating through the feeling of not belonging and not being accepted.Authenticity and strengthening sense of self.Connecting with people and building more meaningful relationships.How parenting influences social dynamics down the line.Social skills that you can hone in on.

Pranav’s bio


Pranav Varma is a counseling psychologist and psychotherapist who has a private practice in Hyderabad. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Christ University, Bangalore. In terms of methodology, he finds himself drawn towards psychodynamic and relational frames of thought with a particular interest in working with groups.


Connect with Pranav
 LinkedIn

QOTD
How do you manage social anxiety? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com 


Resources 
Understanding social anxietyHow to live with authenticity and be your truest selfCultivating meaningful relationships
Write to us  - podcast@myndstories.com


Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.


*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Attachment styles - we all have one, but do we really understand how they impact our relationships? 
In this fascinating episode of The Therapy Room, host Smitha sits down with therapist and Unfix Clinic founder Aanandita for an enlightening discussion on the different attachment styles and how they play out in romantic relationships. Whether you're anxious, avoidant, or somewhere in between, this is an eye-opening look at where our patterns come from and how to manage them with more awareness and compassion. 
Listen to the full episode and get ready to rethink your thoughts on intimacy, attachment, and more.

About The Therapy Room


The Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal. 

Quote from the conversation


"I think as human beings, you're flawed, I'm flawed, all of us are flawed, I think we just
need to kind of find the kind of flaw that we can work with."


We talk about
The four main attachment styles How an anxious attachment style can lead to clinginess and a strong fear of abandonment, while an avoidant style causes someone to be highly independent and avoid intimacyThe challenges of pursuing a relationship when one partner has an anxious style and the other is avoidantUsing effective communication during conflictsThe concept of a "relationship gratitude list"Why no attachment style is inherently good or badPractical advice on managing attachment stylesHow to manage conflicts with authenticity and patience 

Aanandita's bio 


Aanandita Vaghani is the founder of UnFix, a mental health counseling firm. As a counselor and mental health behavioral therapist Aanandita works towards enhancing her clients/ patients emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships. She has accumulated significant experience in addressing a wide spectrum of mental health issues, spanning from anxiety and depression to eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders. 


Aanandita has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and has completed her MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness at New York University.


Connect with Aanandita


Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Resources


Types of attachment stylesHow attachment issues affect relationshipsConflict resolution communication tipsEffects of expressing gratitudeThe 5 love languages quizFind us on Instagram and LinkedIn. Email us- podcast@myndstories.com
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

In this thought-provoking and emotionally candid conversation episode, Smitha Murthy talks to Renuka, a mental health advocate and suicide prevention activist, unfolding Renuka's life journey. It's one that has traversed darkness and light, tragedy and renewal, pain and profound healing.


Renuka peels back the layers to reveal how creative self-expression through art became a sanctuary during her deepest bouts of depression, anxiety, and the trauma of an abusive relationship. Her story is an inspiration, showing how she mustered the courage to face adversity head-on, silence her harsh inner critic, and ultimately rebuild herself piece-by-piece using the vibrant colors of her paintbrush.

Quote from the conversation


"It's important sometimes to accept that we don't have to go anywhere. That sometimes the past is a constant companion and we don't, we can't just push it away."


We discuss


How art can be a great coping mechanismDealing with imposter syndromeManaging the trauma of an abusive relationship and suicideConnecting with her inner child Renuka's inspiring perspectives on her journey of healing and self-discovery


Renuka's bio 


Renuka S is Senior Manager, Analytics at Pure Storage. She is based in Bangalore and helped organizations solve challenges using big data.


She is also an enthusiastic toastmaster, a bird photographer, and an artist who shares her stories and pursuits on her blog - https://renuszone.blog 


Connect with Renuka
LinkedIn

QOTD


Have you tried art therapy? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com
Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn
*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Entrepreneurship is a roller-coaster. It’s a journey that takes tremendous courage to even start because there’s nothing guaranteed. 
In a lot of ways, it’s a great metaphor for life. It teaches you life lessons - how to fail, how to handle adversity, and how to get back up.
Ultimately it’s worth it because you get to truly make an impact on people’s lives.We explore the intricacies of this journey with Anmol Arora - CEO and Co-founder of DocVita, a telehealth company that connects people with therapists and psychiatrists. 

We discuss:
The story behind DocVita.Anmol’s take on finding meaning and purpose in life.How he deals with the fear of external judgement and failure.Managing possible mismatches of drive and work-ethic among his team.What the best version of himself means to him.State of mental health care in India.Anmol's biggest learning till date.

Anmol’s bio


As the Founder of DocVita, Anmol is passionate about connecting individuals with the right doctors & therapists and supporting startups by helping them prioritize their team’s mindset & mental health.He is an IIT Indore alumnus from the class of 2016. 


Before pursuing his startup full-time, he has worked as a Trainee at CERN(European Centre for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, Switzerland. He is an expert in marketing & fast product-led growth.


Connect with Anmol
Instagram | LinkedIn

QOTD
What does becoming your best version mean to you? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources
State of mental health in IndiaHow to move past your fears

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!
Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Can we outrun loneliness? 

In The Rider, poet Naomi Shihab Nye seems to suggest that we can. Loneliness can be escaped. The rider, then, is you, me, and anyone who wants to escape this crushing feeling. 

Loneliness, that most ubiquitous of emotions, goes from abstract to concrete in this conversational, free-verse poem. Loneliness gains a persona and if you leave it behind you can be a champion. The poet says that doing so is 

"A victory! To leave your loneliness
panting behind you on some street corner
while you float free into a cloud of sudden azaleas"


Srividya Sivakumar brings this poem to life through her magical and compelling reading, accompanied by a short reflection on the poem. 


Listen to it on The Poetic Pause, a podcast that explores the hidden life of poems, the joy they give us, the beauty they offer and the comfort they bestow. 


Read the poem here: https://poets.org/poem/rider


Meet Srividya Sivakumar
Srividya Sivakumar is a critically acclaimed poet, TEDx speaker, teacher, and voiceover artist. She believes in using her voice to drive change, spark conversations, and encourage you to slow down.


QOTD
Can you recall a poem that delves into loneliness, like The Rider? Would you like to share it with us?
Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com


This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Have you heard of glimmers? They are the opposite of triggers. Glimmers are small moments of safety, joy, love, and contentment. 
This episode of Dear Mynd explores the sense of wonder essential to finding glimmers that help in enjoying a fuller life. It makes a case for holding on to a sense of wonder and awe and what it can bring to a person’s well-being. 
'What the Dark Sounds Like’ is a charming look at the world from the eyes of a child. His ready acceptance of the presence of magic all around us is a timely lesson for all of us.
Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories through shared experiences that teach us that we are not alone. 
We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us. 


Details of the episode
Observing the world around us has multitudes of benefits.Awe can create better positive feelings and health.Magic is above, below, and all around us. 

Meet the host


Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device.  Books. Yes, she’s a self-avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create.  A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker, and voiceover artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle – one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm, and encourages you – to slow down, one story at a time.


Author bio 
What the Dark Sounds Like is written by Aparna Kapur and illustrated by Krishna Bala Shenoi. Most of Aparna Kapur’s friends are imaginary, and she is happiest when making things up. When not writing or editing children’s books, she can be found poring over a book or pouring herself a large cup of coffee. She has completed a master's degree in wild writing from the University of Essex.
Krishna Bala Shenoi's illustrations, spanning a variety of styles, have accompanied children's literature in books produced by esteemed publishing houses across India. 

Resources and attribution
What the Dark Sounds Like is written by Aparna Kapur and illustrated by Krishna Bala Shenoi. It is published on Storyweaver.org. 


To read
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary OliverWild: An Elemental Journey by Jay GriffithsBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall KimmererThe Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow LindberghThe Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven PinkerAwe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner

QOTD
What does the dark sound, look, and feel like to you?
Write to Srividya - podcast@myndstories.com. Visit  www.myndstories.com. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn