Meera, Age 38

Meera worked long hours, cared for ageing parents, and managed the household. She felt rushed and tense. She slept late, skipped meals, and drank multiple cups of tea and coffee. Over time she developed headaches, irrita…

Meera worked long hours, cared for ageing parents, and managed the household. She felt rushed and tense. She slept late, skipped meals, and drank multiple cups of tea and coffee. Over time she developed headaches, irritability, poor sleep, and frequent arguments. She thought, "This is just my life; I have to tolerate it."

A friend suggested a counsellor. They named the main stressors and the unhelpful coping (excess caffeine, no breaks, saying yes to everything). Meera started 20-minute evening walks, breathing before bed, one short break at work, sharing some responsibilities, and reducing tea and coffee after noon.

Within weeks her sleep improved, headaches reduced, and she felt more in control. She realised: "I cannot remove all stress, but I can change how I respond and build support."

7.16 A simple story