Care In The Chaos

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highs & lows SELF-CARE

GIRISH SUBRAMANIAM
40, operations lead, Network Operations,
Krones Digital Solution India, Hyderabad

RELOCATION STRESS
EMBRACING CHANGE

After 38 years in New Delhi, where every corner held a nostalgic note, 40-year-old Girish Subramaniam moved to Hyderabad, when his wife received a better work opportunity. The city of Charminar also had a special place in his heart, being his birthplace. The move seemed a perfect blend of professional growth and family connections.

But Delhi was not just a city; it had been home. The struggle to leave behind years of memories was tough. “The yearning showed up in my day-to-day life as moments of nostalgia for the local food spots and the spontaneous meetups with old friends.”

Having a family connection with the city helped break the loneliness in some ways. Spending time with relatives gave him a sense of belonging. “Setting up our home with personal touches, photos, books, and little things from Delhi also made the space feel comforting,” he adds. These small acts helped him feel a little more grounded and ‘at home’.

Talking to friends and family was the biggest lifeline for him. A reminder that despite changing cities, his support system was still strong. “I also leaned into making routines—from taking regular walks with my pet to engaging in home workouts and gaming,” he says. When things felt overwhelming, he would immerse himself in a game that challenged his skills and kept his mind engaged.

Instead of feeling the pressure to ‘settle in quickly’, Subramaniam gave himself the space to feel the discomfort and homesickness without judgement. Engaging in activities he loved, like watching a regional film, eating at food spots that soon became familiar, like a samosa from Rio and pav bhaji from Friends Corner, helped ease the transition without forcing it. It is still a work in progress, but the move feels more natural and less overwhelming to him.

“With the right support, relocation can eventually become a ground for personal growth.
Habits like reflective journaling, conscious grounding practices, and consistent social connections slowly reshape the experience”

Dr Chandni Tugnait,
psychotherapist, founder, Gateway of Healing, Gurugram

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highs & lows SELF-CARE

MONICA KAMATH
33, head of communications, RAAHO, Delhi

CAREER CHANGE & JOB LOSS
PICKING UP THE PIECES AND MOVING ON

“My job loss was beyond a regular layoff incident; it was the sunset of something I had built up and closed,” says Monica Kamath, a Delhi-based communications professional, after her two startups folded, making her question her self-worth. It hit her hard because she had been involved in them from day one—in functions, projects, and working systems.

In the days immediately after closedown, there was, of course, a practical loss, but mostly she felt a quiet disdain. “It took a long time to get out of that cycle,” she recalls.

What passed for care routine at first was simply not rushing. The support from her partner and family made it easier. Since her situation was beyond regular layoff incidents, she sat and analysed the wreckage. “I listed what I had done, not what I had failed to prevent.”

This eventually put her on a path of rebuilding her portfolio, updating her CV and hunting for the next opportunity. “I learned a new language, said yes to consulting, and published an article independently,” she says. On good days, the ritual was as small as acknowledging that updating her portfolio was, in fact, movement.

Although comparing her professional success with that of others never really went away, it grew quieter as Monica focused more on her own journey. “Over time, the year assembled itself: from deliberate pauses, experiments, and slightly better questions about what my work should be allowed to take from me,” she explains. Somewhere in there, worth returned—not as a title, but as a voice that could say no, and then wait for the right kind of yes.

“Building a temporary financial plan for the next three to six months reduces anxiety. Open communication channels with family or partners to avoid emotional isolation. Remember to treat financial self-care like emotional self-care. Tracking expenses calmly, setting weekly money check-ins, and celebrating small wins help rebuild trust in your ability to navigate uncertainty”

Dr Chandni Tugnait,
psychotherapist, founder, Gateway of Healing, New Delhi