Vaibhav

25 | Single | Advocate

I have always struggled with body image issues and have dealt with casual mockery and stereotyping in that regard. I did not come to realize what such a treatment was doing to me all my chiildhood. It made me lose my power to express and rendered me feeling conscious everytime I went out or even around family members. I did not know what it was to not feel conscious about how I look. However, as i grew older, I realized the importance of acceptance before actually making a change. I learnt to love myself for who I am but at the same time, wanting to be better.

Then, I went to college and came into a very serious relationship thinking she was the one. But that relationship turned out to be one of the biggest embarrassments of my life. My social life suffered and so did my academics. For almost 3 years, I spiraled into anxiety, frequent emotional breakdowns and negative approach towards almost all aspects of my life. All of this was coupled with a loop of procrastination and high pressure environment and I didn't seem to find a way out. I came from a background where talking to someone is still a sign of weakness.

However, I had a couple of people in my life I opened up to. Slowly, I got out of that relationship and started to build myself back up. I laid the first block of my self reconstruction in 2020 and have grown so much since then. There are many things that I have lost due to all the issues and I will probably regret not realizing those opportunities. But, this is the best of version of me ever and I cannot be prouder of myself.