Relationships

As a first-person essay, this does not require review by our team of Reviewers. Barring minor changes for grammar and sentence structure, we have kept the voice of the author intact. The first time I met Gurdeep, it wasn’t some lightning-bolt moment. No dramatic music, no butterflies, just an ordinary afternoon at our family’s Dosa...

The feature they loved the most was used by only 30% of their users, and it nearly broke their vision. For Vasundhara Kanoria, co-founder of Togethrly, the journey into relationship wellness began with a simple idea: a sticky-note widget for couples to leave each other loving or thoughtful messages on their phone screens. Togethrly began...

What if the relationship that looks like love… isn’t? If you’ve ever found yourself second-guessing your feelings, excusing red flags, or staying because “maybe it’ll change,” this conversation is for you. In her powerful debut, A Lot LIKE Love… But Not!, therapist and debut author Vaishnavi Madarkal calls out relationships rooted in emotional manipulation, trauma...

Trigger warning: This story contains descriptions of domestic violence, emotional abuse, and trauma. Reader discretion is advised. As a first-person essay, this does not require review by our team of Reviewers. They say life is a series of choices, but sometimes, choices are made for us – by fear, shame, and a twisted sense of...

This is a personal essay written by the author, sharing their individual journey and experiences. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this piece belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MyndStories. This essay has not been professionally vetted or reviewed for clinical accuracy. The world fractured the day my...

Soul Musings is a weekly or twice-weekly column by Smitha Murthy, the co-founder of MyndStories. These reflections are tiny snippets from her life, vulnerable and intimate, inviting you to pause and reflect with her. In May 2019, I set off to walk 800 kilometers along the Camino de Santiago, a historic trail from France to...

Have you ever felt like you’re sailing the relationship boat alone, even though your partner is right beside you? Or maybe you catch yourself longing for the freedom of being single, despite still being committed? These are few of the telltale signs of quiet quitting in relationships. Many of us find ourselves quietly quitting relationships—staying...

Have you ever been in one of those tricky situations where you wake up feeling really good? Those moments where you feel centered and in complete control of your emotions. Then something, seemingly small, jerks you out of that mojo, totally scrambling your balance. In those moments, like dominos falling, you may feel those positive...

As a first-person essay, this doesn’t require verification by our team of expert reviewers. Please note that these views are of the author’s alone. Personal experiences are as valid as peer-reviewed journals. This story is about someone who had to change many aspects of her life due to her quiet nature. This is me, a...

Have you ever felt like you’re constantly walking on eggshells around a parent, partner, or friend? No matter what you do, you almost always fall short of their expectations and fail to measure up. If this sounds relatable, chances are that you are being manipulated through power play in your relationships. Power play isn’t always...

Relationships are living things. These are the words of Bento C. Leal, an author and Relationship Skills Trainer, who goes on to describe relationships beautifully. He asks us to see them as a live entity that requires nourishment to grow, much like a baby. Our role is to nourish them with our love, support, encouragement,...

Research has shown that people in a marriage have better mental health than ones who are single. But how do you manage a marriage or a relationship with a partner who has mental health issues? The Eklavya Foundation for Mental Health explores this intriguing question in a one-hour session on 6 March, 2024. Led by...

Relationships are truly wonderful. It’s great to have someone who listens to your endless rants about workday mishaps, someone with whom you can share your memes, food, and troubles alike. This someone celebrates your wins, stands by your side, and supports you through it all. It’s like having a companion, a friend, and a partner...

Are you feeling lonely? Then you are not alone. A 2022 survey conducted in partnership between Meta and Gallup across 142 countries shows that 1 in 4 people feel lonely. That's approximately 77% of the world's adult population. The rates of loneliness were highest among young adults aged between 19 and 29 and lowest rates...

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. There's something about incessant rain, isn't it? Often, a rainy night would have me curling up on my bed with a rom-com movie. But today, it felt different. I felt a tug in my heart, an emptiness and a longing. I missed a friend I did not have. I missed the little conversations...

Do you feel you're always taken for granted by your close ones? Do you feel drained after talking to a certain family member? Do you feel you can't freely express your opinions or feelings in family discussions? If you answered yes, you might want to create strong boundaries around yourself. But you also might fear...

‘Word by Word’ is a column by Garima Behal on learning to ride the highs and lows of everyday life I’m 10 years old and reading a book by Sidney Sheldon. The story has a scene that describes oral sex. It’s the first time I read anything so explicit, or anything sexual for that matter....

‘Word by Word’ is a column by Garima Behal on learning to ride the highs and lows of everyday life Here, she talks of young love, old love, and all the loves that hide in the corners of our expectations, the realities of our lives, and the unseen edges of our minds. “Don’t go!” I...

In a world brimming with stories, MyndStories has strived to carve a unique niche by offering powerful narratives that touch the heart and mind alike. From heartfelt family accounts to thought-provoking interviews and insightful essays, we hope to give you the guidance, support, and encouragement you seek during tough times. So, while we have slogged,...

The Therapy Room is a MyndStories Special where mental health experts offer help and guidance on mental health issues, relationships, and wellbeing. A social media post appeared on my Instagram feed a few days back. The post was about 'unusual signs in someone dealing with anxiety issues.' One of the points that stood out to...