Win the Battle Within: Lessons from My Doctor.

By: Dr. Tasaduq Hidayat

I am writing this article while sitting in my doctor’s cabin, the cabin of Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Bhat Sir. It is quiet here yet filled with wisdom. He is an Assistant Professor at SKIMS, but for me, he is more than just a doctor. Every time I feel something wrong in my body, I come here. He never treats me with just symptomatic medicine. He goes deeper. He listens. He counsels. He heals.

Today, as I sit here with a little anxiety in my heart, he speaks to me in a way that feels carefully crafted. His words are simple, but they carry depth. They are not only for me, but for anyone who struggles with anxiety, fear, or self-doubt.

He gives me six points. As he talks, I write them down. And now, I share them with you, one by one.

“Win the Battle in Your Mind”

He begins softly, “You have to win the battle in your mind.”

I pause at this sentence. The mind can often become a battlefield. Negative thoughts attack from all sides. Anxiety whispers lie that feel real. The problem is not outside; it is inside. Winning the battle in the mind means not letting fear control you. It means telling yourself that worry is not truth. Most fears are shadows; they look bigger than they are. The doctor explains that thoughts must be managed. When a negative thought comes, do not fight it harshly. Let it pass, like a cloud in the sky. The more we chase it, the stronger it gets. But if we allow it to move on, it loses its power.

That is the first lesson: your mind is the battlefield, and you are the fighter.

“Strengthen the Mind, Not the Brain”

He then says something that makes me think: “Make your mind strong, not your brain.”

At first, it feels strange. Aren’t the mind and brain the same? But then he explains. The brain is a machine. It controls nerves and signals. It is physical. But the mind is your inner self. It is the voice inside you. It is the place where hope, fear, and strength live. Strengthening the brain with medicine or activity is not enough. We need to strengthen the mind. That means building courage, practicing patience, and speaking kindly to ourselves. It means reminding that “I can do this. I will not give up.”

A strong mind can carry a weak body. But a weak mind cannot hold even a healthy body. This was his second lesson.

“The Light of Surah Duha”

He then takes me to faith. “Read Surah Duha,” he says.

Surah Duha was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at a time of sadness. Its message is timeless. It says that darkness will not last forever. Morning will come. Hardship will ease. God has not left you.

As I sit in his cabin and recall the verses, I feel a calmness. Reciting Surah Duha with meaning feels like medicine for the heart. It reminds me that my struggles are not permanent. He advises me to not only recite it, but to feel it. To believe that God cares even when silence surrounds me. This is the third lesson: faith brings light where fear brings shadows.

“You Are the Best Doctor for Yourself”

The doctor looks at me and says firmly, “Remember, you are the best doctor for yourself.”   These words touch me deeply. No one knows my body and mind better than I do. A doctor can guide me, but healing begins with me. If I choose to take care of myself, half the illness is already treated. If I sleep well, eat well, and think well, then medicines work better. If I ignore myself, even the best doctor cannot help much. This is not about rejecting medical care. It is about responsibility. I must be part of my own healing. I must be my own doctor first.

“It Is You Who Has to Fight, Not Medications”

He continues, “It is you who has to fight, not the medications.”  Medicines are support, not saviours. They reduce pain, balance chemicals, or give relief. But they cannot fight the root cause alone. That fight belongs to me. If my mind gives up, then no medicine will help. If my mind stays strong, then even simple treatment feels powerful. This lesson teaches me balance. Take medicines when needed but never depend fully on them. The real cure lies in courage, patience, and self-belief.

“You Are Still the Best Doctor for Yourself”

Before I leave, he repeats the point again: “Do not forget. You are the best doctor for yourself.” He repeats it because he knows I might forget in moments of weakness. Anxiety makes us forget our strength. Fear makes us blind to our own power. By repeating, he plants the truth deeper in my mind. I write it again in my notes. You are the best doctor for yourself. This is not just advice. It is a reminder to carry every day.

The Way He Treats

What makes him different is not only his medical degrees or awards. It is his way of seeing patients as human beings, not just bodies. He does not only chase symptoms. He tries to reach the root. He listens with patience. He explains with care.

In his cabin, I do not feel like a case file. I feel like a human being who is being guided to heal. In the silence of my doctor’s cabin, I realize that healing is not only about medicine or advice, but also about awakening the strength within. His words remind me that anxiety is not a life sentence, it is a passing cloud. Faith, patience, and self-belief are stronger than any fear. I walk away knowing that while doctors guide, the real cure lies in how we treat ourselves, how we think, and how we choose to fight. And the truth is simple yet powerful; the best doctor for me, and for you, is the one we see in the mirror every day.

_{(Dr. Tasaduq Hidayat is the Sub Editor, Regular Columnist, and Podcast Host at Straight Talk Communications. He has earned a Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication from IUST, Awantipora, reflecting his deep expertise and academic dedication in this field. His specialization is Broadcast Media, Climate Change and Science Communication.) He can be reached at:}

tasaduq.hidayat@iust.ac.in