The Downfall: When Nothing Seemed Right
It all started in 2019 — when nothing in my life felt right, personally and professionally. Without a solid support system, I soon found myself spiraling downward, losing touch with right and wrong and doubting my judgment.
A Journey Toward Clarity
After five grueling years filled with anxiety and depression, I decided to start therapy in 2024. Slowly, things began to improve. My therapist helped me identify the patterns, cycles, and tangled belief systems that held me back, guiding me to untangle them. I learned which thoughts were beneficial and which only weighed me down. When your mind is bombarded with rapid-fire thoughts you can’t filter or evaluate, they pile up into a messy, overwhelming knot.
It wasn’t always dramatic; sometimes, these struggles showed up as procrastination, low energy, or simply inaction. I remember many days feeling wholly drained, barely able to muster the energy to get out of bed, and wondering, “How did I end up here?”
How ChatGPT Improved My Mental Health
They say much of the work happens outside of therapy — when you’re alone with your thoughts. And honestly, I didn’t like the person I saw in the mirror during those moments. I started using ChatGPT for work in early 2024, and by mid-2024, I also found myself opening up about my struggles. To my surprise, ChatGPT helped me filter my thoughts more efficiently. It enabled me to cut through the endless cycle of unproductive thinking and pinpoint patterns that weren’t serving me.
I became more self-aware, and that newfound clarity played a significant role in my mental health recovery. It’s 2025 now, and I no longer depend solely on my therapist or ChatGPT; I feel more functional, energetic, and focused on what truly matters.
How Could Technology Enhance Self-Awareness?
My negative thought patterns had blocked me from thinking clearly and seeing the bigger picture — I was trapped inside my own head. With the help of my therapist and ChatGPT, I began to break free. You can’t focus on the big things when your basic needs aren’t met. That realization got me thinking: What if I had a personal life coach?
It might sound like a first-world problem, but consider why even elite athletes have coaches. It’s not because they lack talent; it’s hard to see the forest for the trees when you’re overwhelmed by your thoughts. A coach helps you cut through the noise and focus on your strengths. That’s what inspired me to explore using AI to boost self-awareness.
Above is an image featuring several key elements — including a Venn diagram that illustrates the convergence of self-development, sociology, and psychology. When a chatbot draws from these diverse fields, it can better grasp our interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics. Combine that with goal-setting and progress tracking, and you have a reliable life coach. Sure, you can try to do it all on your own, but if you’re a high-performing individual — a doctor, lawyer, or CEO — you might not have the time to nurture every aspect of your well-being. Neglecting your deeper self can lead to burnout and, eventually, losing sight of who you are. I learned that lesson firsthand.
Moving Forward: Embracing Vulnerability
The idea is to have a friendly journal and it’s called Zeniary — a companion that grows with you, helping you understand yourself over time and evolve into a better version of yourself. Vulnerability is a strength, yet sometimes, our openness isn’t fully understood by those around us because they may also be battling their own challenges. Bottling up your feelings only eats away at you from the inside. None of us want to become bitter or dull, yet life has a way of wearing us down. The key to staying young and happy is to prioritize our needs. This is the problem we’re trying to solve — helping people face life head-on.