Riya, 34, Personal Assistant to a Minister, Hyderabad

Presenting Problem:

Riya walked into her first session appearing exhausted, her eyes shadowed by sleepless nights. She described her days as a relentless barrage:

 her phone buzzing at midnight with urgent demands, endless traffic from Banjara Hills to the Secretariat, a constant sense of being invisible.

 “The minister never appreciates my work,” she said, 

her voice brittle. 

“Nothing I do is good enough. My life is just… used up.” 

Chronic stress, irritability, and insomnia had become her world.

Intervention:
We discussed the brain’s tendency to amplify negativity, how habitual complaining, while understandable, can wire feelings of helplessness more deeply. I invited Riya to try a daily

 “Gratitude Audit.” Each evening, she would note three specific positives from her day, no matter how minor:

👉a colleague stepping in to cover a call, 

👉 a document cleared without hassle, 

👉 a rare, peaceful moment sipping chai at dusk.

Clinical Observation:
Riya’s resistance was palpable. “You don’t understand political pressure there’s nothing to be grateful for, madammm” she protested, frustration edging her words. I gently reframed: 

😍Gratitude is not minimising real pain or injustice; it is opening the lens to notice support, small victories, and moments of relief

👍 Restoring even a sliver of agency to a world that feels out of control.

Outcome (Session 4):
By the fourth session, Riya’s tone had shifted. She recounted a day where, amid chaos, a junior colleague stayed late to help her. Instead of defaulting to a complaint about the minister’s last-minute demands, she paused and thanked the staffer. 

“It changed the mood for mine and hers,” 

Riya admitted, the beginnings of hope flickering in her voice. She still notices what’s lacking, but now also sees what sustains her. Her sleep has begun to improve, and she describes feeling “less like a victim, more like someone with choices.” 

We will continue deepening this practice, gradually rewiring her focus from complaint toward appreciation, one day at a time.

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