Behind successful careers and busy lifestyles often lies an unseen burden of anxiety, sleeplessness, and emotional exhaustion. This article follows Rohan Malhotra, a high-performing IT professional whose life was quietly unraveling under the weight of unmanaged anxiety. Through a combination of medical care and the transformative power of yoga, Rohan not only regained his health but also rediscovered balance, resilience, and peace of mind.
Patient Name: Rohan Malhotra
Age: 35
Location: Bangalore, India
Occupation: IT Project Manager
Table of Contents
Living Under Pressure:
Rohan Malhotra’s life looked perfect on paper: a successful career in IT, a stable family life, and financial security. But underneath it all, Rohan was battling an invisible enemy: chronic stress.
“I was always on edge,” Rohan shares. “Meetings, deadlines, office politics, even small things like traffic jams would trigger intense anxiety. I thought being stressed was normal.”
Over time, the symptoms escalated:
- Sleepless nights
- Frequent headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Digestive issues
- Irritability and mood swings
When he started experiencing regular chest pains, his family convinced him to seek professional help.
Medical Evaluation:
In early 2024, Rohan consulted Doctor, an internal medicine specialist at a leading multispeciality hospital in Bangalore.
Tests Conducted:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Normal; ruled out heart disease.
- Blood Pressure Monitoring: Elevated levels, borderline hypertension.
- Cortisol Blood Test: Significantly high, indicating chronic stress.
- Complete Blood Work: Mild vitamin D deficiency, but otherwise normal.
- Psychological Evaluation: Confirmed Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) linked to chronic work-related stress.
The doctor explained that while Rohan’s body was physically healthy, his stress levels were putting him at risk for serious issues like heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders.
She prescribed:
- Lifestyle modifications
- Short-term anxiolytic medication
- Therapy sessions focused on stress management
However, she also suggested something unconventional: therapeutic yoga.
The Discovery of Yoga:
Skeptical but willing to try, Rohan enrolled in a stress management yoga program at “Sukoon Wellness Studio” under the guidance of a yoga therapist and clinical psychologist, Doctor.
The Yoga Program Focused On:
-
Breathing Exercises (Pranayama):
-
Asanas for Relaxation:
-
Balasana (Child’s Pose)
-
-
Meditation and Mindfulness:
-
Yoga Nidra (Deep Relaxation):
-
Practiced twice a week to reset the nervous system
-
The approach was slow, gentle, and focused on activating the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” response) to counteract the effects of chronic fight-or-flight activation.
The Transformation
Initially, Rohan found it hard to slow down. “I couldn’t sit still during meditation,” he laughs. “My mind would race with unfinished tasks.”
But persistence paid off. Within six weeks:
- His sleep improved noticeably.
- He experienced fewer headaches.
- His blood pressure readings normalized.
By the third month:
- His cortisol levels dropped by 20%.
- He no longer needed medication for anxiety.
- He could handle work stress without feeling overwhelmed.
The doctor was amazed at his progress. “Yoga provided Rohan with the skills to self-regulate his body’s stress response,” she noted. “It didn’t just mask the symptoms it addressed the root cause.”
Today, Rohan maintains a daily yoga and mindfulness practice alongside his regular gym workouts. He has also started attending monthly wellness retreats to reinforce his commitment to a balanced lifestyle.
Life After Stress
“Yoga gave me back control,” Rohan says. “It taught me that peace isn’t found outside it’s created inside. Now, deadlines still exist, pressures are still there, but I don’t lose myself to them anymore.”
He adds with a smile, “It’s like upgrading my inner software more resilient, calmer, and happier.”
Key Takeaways:
- Chronic stress can manifest physically even without any obvious external signs.
- Yoga is a powerful tool to reduce stress markers like cortisol.
- Breathwork and meditation are essential components of stress recovery.
- Long-term consistency is more important than intensity.
Reference Articles:
- Yoga for Anxiety: Why It Works and 9 Poses to Try
- How Does Yoga Reduce Anxiety?
- Yoga for better mental health – Harvard Health
