Radha’s Journey: “A story of courage and care, reminding us that no one is alone.”

Radha was a 38-year-old IT professional flourishing in her career in a multinational company in Bengaluru.  Married for the last 10 years, she lived with her 43-year-old husband, Ravi, CEO of a company, and their two children, 8-year-old Ananya and 5-year-old Anand.  Her in-laws lived next door and were always ready to help.  

One day Radha attended a guest lecture on Women’s Health at her office Wellness Centre.  They spoke about breast self-examination and encouraged women to try it.   That evening while checking, Radha noticed a small lump.

Her heart sank.  Almost instantly, her mind began racing: “What if it’s cancer? What if it spreads? What if my children lose their mother?”

This is what psychologists call catastrophization — when our mind jumps to the worst possible outcome, even before we know the facts.

Radha spent the night awake, going through every frightening scenario in her head. She imagined long hospital stays, painful treatments, and even her absence from her children’s lives. The fear was so strong that she almost didn’t want to visit the doctor.  But the next morning, Ravi gently reminded her, “Finding out the truth is better than letting your mind run wild.”

The First Step: Facing Reality:

Radha gathered her courage and went to see her doctor. After the examination, the doctor confirmed the suspicion of cancer, ordered tests and gently said, “Radha, while we wait for the results, I suggest you also meet our counsellor. Many patients find it helps with the stress.”  Before Radha could answer, Ravi quickly replied, “She’s strong. She doesn’t need a counsellor.”

Radha stayed quiet, but inside she felt a mix of relief and pride. She thought, “I should be able to deal with this on my own.  What will people think if I see a counsellor?  I am not that weak..”

Still, waiting was difficult.  The nights grew harder. Her thoughts looped endlessly, and sleep became a stranger.

Caring for the Mind Every Day

Two weeks later, when Radha first heard the words “You have cancer,” it felt like the ground disappeared under her feet.  Her thoughts were loud and messy.  Some days she felt scared, other days angry, and sometimes just empty.  She felt her mind pulling her into ‘what if’ spirals.  

Her oncologist, on noticing her disquiet, said something simple:
“Radha, you brush your teeth every morning, right? That’s how you keep your mouth clean. Your mind needs the same kind of care every day — small steps that keep it healthy. We call this mental health hygiene.”  

As she waited for her chemotherapy planning, she struck up a conversation with her fellow patient Anita.  Anita spoke openly about her struggles with anxiety.  “I used to think like you.  That counselling was for the weak. But talking to the psychologist has been a lifeline.  She gave me small tools that make the dark days a little lighter.  It’s not about being mad. It’s about being human.”

Hearing it from a fellow patient — not a doctor, not her husband — touched Radha deeply. For the first time, she considered that counselling was not a sign of weakness, but a step towards strength.

The Turn

The Turning Point

The next week, Radha met the hospital psychologist, Meena.  Meena explained that her fears, her catastrophizing thoughts, and her sleepless nights were natural, and gave her simple practices:

Naming Feelings Each morning, before getting out of bed, Radha wrote how she felt: “I feel tired today.”  “I feel worried.”  “I feel hopeful.” At first, it felt silly. But slowly, naming her feelings made them easier to carry, like putting heavy bags down for a moment.

Keeping a Simple Routine Radha began waking up, eating, resting, and sleeping at about the same times every day. Even on difficult days, her little routine gave her a sense of safety and order, even when life felt uncertain.

Breathing Before Reacting One afternoon, when her scan report was delayed, Radha began panicking. She remembered Meena’s words, “Try three slow breaths, Radha. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, and breathe out for 6.” It did not change the news, but it stopped her heart from racing.

Staying ConnectedRadha started reaching out to her friends.  She spoke about her diagnosis and treatment.  Her friend Asha started sending her a  “thinking of you” text every evening. Sometimes they only exchanged emojis, but it reminded her that she was not alone.  Her in-laws spending more time in her house, taking on more responsibilities of her children, and the shared meal times made her feel normal again.

The Worry Window Before, Radha worried from morning till night. Now, she gave herself just 15 minutes in the afternoon to sit with her worries. When the timer rang, she said softly, “That’s enough for today.”  It did not erase the fears, but it stopped them from taking over every moment.Moving the Body On days she felt exhausted, Radha still stretched her arms or took a short walk to the balcony.  The fresh air and movement lifted her mood, even if only a little

Being Kind to Herself At first, her inner voice was harsh: “You’re weak.  You can’t handle this” But Meena encouraged her to try new words:  “I’m doing my best.”  “It’s okay to rest.” It felt strange, but kinder words slowly replaced the sharp ones.  Over time, self-kindness became her shield.

Creating a Calm Corner Radha cleared a small space near the window, put a soft blanket, a photo of her family, and a small plant there. It became her “peace zone” — a place to breathe, cry, or just sit quietly.  Sometimes her children cuddled with her in that place.  Whenever her thoughts got too heavy, she sat there to reset.

Protecting Mental Energy She started turning off the news after 10 minutes, and stopped answering calls from relatives and friends who only spoke about cancer horror stories or stories about miracles or about ‘natural remedies’ or ‘alternative therapies”. Saying “no” became part of her healing.

Asking for Help One evening, when fear felt too heavy, Radha called Meena.  “I’m not okay today,” she said.  Meena listened without rushing her. “That’s what I’m here for,” she said.  That moment taught Radha that asking for help was not weakness, it was courage.

The One-Minute ResetWhenever sudden fear hit, Radha closed her eyes, breathed in thinking “I am safe,” and breathed out thinking “I am strong.” Repeating this three times helped her feel steady again.

In the End

Radha’s cancer treatment was still hard — there were bad days and tears.
But these small daily acts, her mental health hygiene, made her feel less lost.
Like brushing her teeth, she did not expect instant results. But over time, her mind felt clearer, calmer, and stronger.

And that was part of her healing, too.