When College Dreams Turned Into Nightmares
Arjun Patel (name changed for privacy) was the dream of every Indian parent:
94 % in 12th boards. Admitted to a top engineering college. Bright future ahead.
Then came psychosis in first year — and everything came crashing down.
“Normally I was attending lectures one day,” says Arjun, now 23. “The following week, I was sure professors were conspiring against me. I didn’t go to class anymore. Didn’t shower. My roommate called my parents when I hadn’t eaten for three days.”
These initial changes are often the first indications of psychosis — as discussed in our blog on hallucinations and early schizophrenia symptoms, where subtle behavioural changes can be missed until a full episode appears.
The Crash: First Semester
| Area | Reality |
|---|---|
| Academics | Failed 3 subjects |
| Health | Hospitalized, discharged home |
| Living | Couldn’t remain in hostel |
| Mental State | Lost confidence, felt like failure |
| Social Life | Frightened classmates would find out |
| Family | Parents crushed, future unknown |
Psychiatric illnesses can derail even the most promising students when support is missing. Our post on Mental Health Issues Among Youngsters – Prevention, Support and Treatment explains how early intervention and structured therapy can help students like Arjun rebuild stability.
The Daily Pill Nightmare
His father recalls:
“We’d call every morning at 7 AM — ‘beta, dawai li?’ Every. Single. Day. Sometimes he forgot. Sometimes he skipped because he felt fine. Then symptoms returned.”
Why Daily Pills Failed College Life
Engineering student timetable:
8 AM lecture (pills left behind at hostel)
11 AM project work (pills visible to teammates)
2 PM lab (no water to take pills)
6 PM coaching (medicine in hostel)
11 PM study (too tired to remember)
Missed dose triggers: deadlines, exam stress, festivals, or plain embarrassment.
“I was living two lives,” admits Arjun. “The ‘normal’ student and the ‘sick’ one. It was tiring.”
Medication non-adherence is a major cause of relapse. Our blog Why People Avoid Mental Health Treatment explores how stigma and routine fatigue make consistency difficult — even when treatment works.
For families trying to understand this duality, It’s Not All in the Mind explains how biological and psychological factors intersect in mental illness.
The Game-Changer: Quarterly LAI Injections
Then came the change that shifted everything.
A simple quarterly injection — an LAI (Long-Acting Injectable) — replaced the daily pill burden.
The arithmetic was simple:
- Injection time: 5 minutes
- Schedule: Every 3 months
- Freedom: 90 days of stability
“No pills to hide. No daily reminders. No med stress during tests. Just me, being a regular student.”
These LAI injections stabilize blood-levels of medication, remove day-to-day stress, and greatly lower relapse rates — especially in schizophrenia and bipolar-spectrum disorders.
Semester-by-Semester Transformation
| Semester | Reality |
|---|---|
| Sem 1 (Pre-LAI) | Failed 3 subjects, hospitalized, withdrawn |
| Sem 2 (Began LAI) | Passed all subjects, joined study group |
| Year 2 | Dean’s List (top 10%), robotics club |
| Year 3 | Tech internship, student council |
| Year 4 | Graduated with honours, Google job offer |
This recovery wasn’t magic — it was science meeting consistency. Learn how timely psychiatric treatment improves academic performance in our Mental Health Support for Students guide.
The Privacy Factor
“This was HUGE,” says Arjun. “My roommates, teammates, professors — no one knew. They just saw a hard-working student.”
His 3-month routine became second nature:
- Visit home during semester break
- Routine clinic visit (looked like a general check-up)
- 5-minute injection
- Lunch with parents
- Back to campus — stable and focused
“Friends thought I was going for dental checkups,” he laughs.
Because LAIs eliminate daily pills, they help preserve privacy and reduce stigma — a crucial factor for young adults in college settings.
Today: Software Engineer at Google Bangalore
- Software Engineer at Google
- ₹18 L starting salary
- Mental health advocate for students
- Living proof that diagnosis ≠ destiny
“That injection takes 5 minutes every three months. It gave me four years of college freedom and a career I love.”
His journey reflects a truth we see daily at Parth Hospital: the right treatment at the right time can transform a life.
Arjun’s Message to Students
“If you’re struggling — I was you. Failing classes, hospitalized, ashamed, thinking life was over at 19.
But hear this: Your diagnosis is not your destiny.
With proper treatment, you can do everything you dreamed.
If I can do it, you can too.”
Read more about recovery stories and early intervention in Mental Health Issues Among Youngsters.
Message to Parents
“We nearly made our son quit. We believed his education was over at 19. LAIs gave him his future back. Don’t let daily medication anxiety steal your child’s college years.” – From Mr. & Mrs. Patel.
If you’re a parent on this journey, our resource Why People Avoid Mental Health Treatment can help you understand what your child is experiencing and how to support them with compassion.
Important Context
While Arjun’s story is encouraging, every recovery is unique. LAIs work best alongside therapy, academic guidance, and regular follow-ups.
Success depends on early diagnosis, family involvement, and personalized care.
For other treatment options used in serious mental illnesses, read All About ECT: Easy-T — a compassionate guide that debunks myths around electroconvulsive therapy.
“The right treatment, at the right time, can change everything.”
Explore more stories and guides on our Blogs Page or visit the Parth Hospital Homepage to learn about our psychiatry, neuromodulation, and holistic recovery services.
