{"id":750,"date":"2025-05-29T11:38:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T11:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/?p=750"},"modified":"2025-05-29T13:49:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T13:49:47","slug":"the-unbreakable-spirit-how-prasoon-overcame-mental-health-struggles-to-build-a-successful-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/?p=750","title":{"rendered":"The Unbreakable Spirit: How Prasoon Overcame Mental Health Struggles to Build a Successful Career"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Mental health challenges are often silent battles, fought behind closed doors. For many, the struggle to maintain mental well-being while pursuing academic and professional goals can feel overwhelming. Prasoon\u2019s story, shared at the Hugging Club of India, is a powerful testament to resilience, showing that even in the darkest moments, recovery and success are possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His journey\u2014filled with misdiagnoses, setbacks, and eventual breakthroughs\u2014offers hope to those grappling with mental illness. It also highlights the urgent need for better mental health awareness, accurate diagnosis, and compassionate care in our society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article delves into Prasoon\u2019s life, exploring: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– His early struggles with undiagnosed mental illness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The breaking point that nearly cost him his life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The long, difficult road to proper treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– How he rebuilt his life and is now thriving as a PhD student in AI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By sharing his story, we hope to inspire others facing similar battles and encourage open conversations about mental health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter 1: The Early Struggles \u2013 A Bright Mind in Crisis<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prasoon grew up in a small town in India, where academic excellence was highly valued. As a child, he was naturally gifted in studies, excelling without much effort. Until Class 7, life seemed smooth\u2014he was a top student, participated in co-curricular activities, and had a supportive family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Promising Start<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But beneath the surface, something was shifting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First Signs of Trouble\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around 2010, Prasoon began experiencing unexplained emotional turmoil. He felt intense anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and a deep sense of isolation. At home, he would struggle with overwhelming emotions, yet in school, he maintained a composed exterior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem?<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– **No Awareness of Mental Health:** He didn\u2019t know terms like *OCD, depression*, or *anxiety*. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– **Misdiagnosis:** When he confided in his sisters, they took him to a general physician, who prescribed medications without proper diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– **Stigma:** Fear of judgment kept him from speaking openly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Downward Spiral<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Class 11, his condition worsened. The pressure of competitive exams (NEET\/AIPMT) magnified his struggles. He recalls: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I wasn\u2019t just worried about failing exams\u2014I was terrified that even if I succeeded, I wouldn\u2019t survive the stress of medical college.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He made a bold decision: he dropped out of school to seek treatment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 2: The Breaking Point \u2013 A Suicide Attempt and a Second Chance<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Search for Help<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prasoon traveled to Delhi, visiting top hospitals like AIIMS and RML, hoping for answers. Instead, he faced:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misdiagnosis: Doctors labeled him with OCD and mixed anxiety-depression but treatments failed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Harsh Words: One psychiatrist told his mother, “If he can\u2019t focus on TV, how will he study? He may need lifelong medication.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Financial Struggles: His family couldn\u2019t afford private care, leading to exhausting waits in government hospitals.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Darkest Moment<\/mark>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 17, exhausted and hopeless, Prasoon attempted suicide by overdosing on his mother\u2019s diabetes medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I was done. I thought, \u2018If this is life, I don\u2019t want it.\u2019”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miraculously, he survived. The experience became a turning point. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rebuilding from Scratch<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against all odds, he reappeared for his Class 12 exams as a private candidate\u2014**scoring 80% despite not studying for a year.** His family\u2019s unwavering support kept him going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Lesson:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– “Sometimes, survival is the first victory.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 3: The Long Road to Recovery \u2013 Trials, Errors, and Hope\u00a0<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Struggle for Correct Diagnosis\u00a0<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prasoon\u2019s journey took him to Varanasi, Ranchi, and multiple psychiatrists. Treatments included:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Medication trials (high-dose SSRIs, antipsychotics).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (RTMS) \u2014 a therapy he found ineffective.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Hospitalizations that left him more traumatized than healed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, at CIP Ranchi, he received the correct diagnosis:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

🔹 Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) \u2014a condition often confused with OCD but requiring different management.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Why Diagnosis Matters<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– OCD vs. OCPD:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0 – OCD: Intrusive thoughts + compulsive behaviors (ego-dystonic).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0 – OCPD: Extreme perfectionism, rigidity (ego-syntonic\u2014the person doesn\u2019t see it as a problem).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Misdiagnosis delayed his recovery for years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t need more pills\u2014I needed therapy that addressed my thought patterns.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 4: Rising Stronger \u2013 From Survival to Success<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Power of Resilience<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prasoon\u2019s turning points came from: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Self-Advocacy: He questioned doctors, researched his symptoms, and sought better care.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Support Systems: His family, mentors, and a few empathetic professionals stood by him.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Small Wins: Passing Class 12, re-entering academics, and slowly regaining confidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Is He Now?<\/mark>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Pursuing a PhD in AI, proving mental illness doesn\u2019t define potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Publicly sharing his story to break stigma.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Advocating for better mental healthcare in India.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Message:<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You have two choices: give up or keep going. I chose to fight.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter 5: Lessons for Society \u2013 Breaking the Stigma<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Needs to Change?<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Better Mental Health Education\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   – Schools should teach students about anxiety, depression, and coping mechanisms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Accurate Diagnoses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   – Doctors must differentiate between disorders like OCD and OCPD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Compassionate Care\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   – Dismissive attitudes (“You\u2019ll never recover”) worsen the struggle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Family & Community Support\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   – Prasoon\u2019s family\u2019s patience saved his life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Call to Action<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Talk openly about mental health.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Seek help early \u2014don\u2019t wait for a crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Support organizations like the Hugging Club of India.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion: The Light After the Storm<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prasoon\u2019s story is not just one of survival\u2014it\u2019s a roadmap for resilience. His journey teaches us: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

✅ Mental illness is not a life sentence.**\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

✅ Correct diagnosis + right support = Recovery.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

✅ Every small step forward counts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re struggling, remember: You are not alone. Help exists. Keep going.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheStigma #Resilience\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Written by Aniket Kundu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Adapted from Prasoon\u2019s talk at the Hugging Club of India, April 13, 2025.)* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mental health challenges are often silent battles, fought behind closed doors. For many, the struggle to maintain mental well-being while pursuing academic and professional goals can feel overwhelming. Prasoon\u2019s story, shared at the Hugging Club of India, is a powerful testament to resilience, showing that even in the darkest moments, recovery and success are possible.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/750"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=750"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":760,"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/750\/revisions\/760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huggingclubofindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}