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‘Felt like cancer’: Bengaluru man’s raw account of depression, recovery strikes chord online

A Bengaluru resident, Varun Agarwal, shared his journey through clinical depression in a viral post, resonating with many.

Published on: Oct 12, 2025, 16:30:21 IST
By , Bengaluru
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A Bengaluru resident's deeply personal post on X about his journey through depression and eventual recovery has resonated with thousands across the internet, offering a powerful message of hope, resilience, and healing.

After years of struggle and personal losses, the man from Bengaluru emphasized hope and resilience, reminding others that recovery is possible. (Image by Pixabay)
After years of struggle and personal losses, the man from Bengaluru emphasized hope and resilience, reminding others that recovery is possible. (Image by Pixabay)

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Varun Agarwal opened up about his silent struggle with clinical depression, a battle that lasted nearly half a decade. In the emotional post, which has since gone viral, Varun revealed how a series of personal and professional losses pushed him into one of the darkest periods of his life.

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“I lost everything - my work, my identity, my network,” he wrote, adding that the death of his younger brother due to Covid made it even harder to cope. Describing depression as “hell,” he recounted days when getting out of bed felt impossible and suicidal thoughts were constant. "Imagine going through that every second for four years," he wrote.

Varun had once been a social figure, but depression forced him into isolation. “And for 4 years I had to endure that constant question - “what is Varun doing?” That's what going to helll and back feels like,” he shared. Now, after years of struggle, he says he’s finally found the strength to start again.

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His words struck a chord with many online, sparking a flood of support from strangers and fellow survivors. Comments praised his honesty and courage, with users sharing their own mental health stories and offering encouragement.

“I don't know who you are, but your post showed up on my timeline. So, dear stranger, I just want you to know I’m rooting for you. You’ve already shown so much courage by speaking up. May the days ahead bring you peace, strength, and healing," one user wrote.

Another said, “Hi Varun thank you for sharing this. I was diagnosed with persistent depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Managing it for last 10 to 12 years now. Life will not be easy and many will not understand. Happy that you are fighting and overcoming it. Wish you the very best!!”

  • Yamini C S
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yamini C S

    Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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