I've struggled with depression throughout college & the last 8 months after coming back from S. Korea. Mental health is something people often like to overlook. When you can't get out of your bed because you're so sad inside, there is something seriously wrong. In my case, I hadn't lived in GA since high school so moving back after living in Illinois, Maryland, Australia, and South Korea was reverse culture shock in a lot of ways. Just imagine traveling the world in Asia to coming back to the suburbs of Atlanta where it's Trump Land. I actually had bought a plane ticket to Australia from Korea back in September. One of my close Aussie friends was even going to pick me up at the airport in Sydney. I was going to work there a year on a holiday work visa, seal is actually doing this right now. But I backed out because AU is hella expensive and I was worried I wouldn't be able to find a job. Moving back home was one of the worst decisions I made in my life.
My car had broke down in November and cost over $800 to fix and my dad finally fixed it for my 23rd birthday. There is no public transport so it was kinda impossible to get a job. And for my field of work, ATL isn't big on the whole LGBT, feminist non profits. In fact, I interviewed for this seasonal job and they were building toys for Africa, but it was a Christian non-profit and every hour they would stop and pray as a group...
Thankfully ever since I've turned 23 last month, my life has began to get better. Shit has hit the fan with my family, but I'm going to be moving to Minnesota for grad school in August. I'm getting nose surgery again in July, so I hope it fixes my deviative septum this time as it didn't work when I was 15. And I'm supposed to leave Florida bound Tuesday for a week. I'm also trying to get a summer job before MN and land an assistantship while I'm there. I only have classes Monday and Wends so I can get a job in Mankato too. I've also been hanging out w a lot of old friends, bar hopping, being here less &...walking every day (six miles yesterday) trying to get back in shape :)
But anyways, my point is: depression is a very real thing that a lot of people struggle with on a daily basis. I personally have never taken anything for it as I feel as though most therapists are a waste of money. For me it has more to do with the environment I live in than anything else. I graduated college a year ago and I look at where other peers are. Some are at Harvard for grad school others majored in math and work at Starbucks.. Everyone has their own path & there is no right answer.
Just keep your mind busy and keep negative thoughts out of your head. I know easier said than done but the busier you are the less time you have to dwell on your problems
It sounds like you were depressed and are still coming out of it (gradually getting better), but it doesn't sound like it's a mental health issue.
Your poor mental health is the effect not the cause. People with a mental health issue have depression due to mental health.
Your depression looks like it's inspired by life circumstances which as you know very well can be just as debilitating.
For this reason I feel like you could benefit a lot from positive stoicism. I'm not a guru of it by any means but I can give you a little run down of it.
Basically stoicism gives YOU all the POWER of yourself. It puts a heavy emphasis on the fact that you are in control of you. For example you can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather (OutKast), but you can still enjoy the picnic. It's even said to make an someone who is imprisoned more free than someone who has the freedom and access to all the luxuries of life.
Happiness isn't just a circumstance, it can also be a choice. Obviously this is a lot harder than just typing it out though.
Sounds like you know what you're doing and know how to help yourself and get yourself back on the right track. You should be proud of yourself, homie.
Have you ever heard of post-study abroad depression? It's actually a common thing a lot of people get when they come back from extended trips overseas and it's actually happened to some of my friends before - you're not alone, don't worry!
