<p>As a Class 8 student, Renuka (name changed) was academically-oriented. But she found it harder to cope with her studies, lost confidence, had sleepless nights and felt sad the whole day.</p>.<p>In Class 10, she had issues with her family and was left with a few friends. A psychiatrist diagnosed her with depression and prescribed medication. That did not work and so she took treatment at Nimhans and has recovered.</p>.<p>“There were days when I would find it difficult to even get out of the bed and brush my teeth,” said Renuka, a Chennai girl now working for an MNC. “I dropped out of engineering college due to an emotional breakdown. I thought I can’t cope.” </p>.<p>Renuka said she was able to manage without medication now. “I went back to my college. That was the same place where I broke down (emotionally). I wanted to move ahead from the place where people had seen me vulnerable.” Having a mental illness is possible like how one has physical ailments, Renuka reasoned.</p>
<p>As a Class 8 student, Renuka (name changed) was academically-oriented. But she found it harder to cope with her studies, lost confidence, had sleepless nights and felt sad the whole day.</p>.<p>In Class 10, she had issues with her family and was left with a few friends. A psychiatrist diagnosed her with depression and prescribed medication. That did not work and so she took treatment at Nimhans and has recovered.</p>.<p>“There were days when I would find it difficult to even get out of the bed and brush my teeth,” said Renuka, a Chennai girl now working for an MNC. “I dropped out of engineering college due to an emotional breakdown. I thought I can’t cope.” </p>.<p>Renuka said she was able to manage without medication now. “I went back to my college. That was the same place where I broke down (emotionally). I wanted to move ahead from the place where people had seen me vulnerable.” Having a mental illness is possible like how one has physical ailments, Renuka reasoned.</p>