How to Overcome Depression - Kitti 20 Years

That was not the case.

As a first-year student in university, popularly known as a “fresher”, one is constantly reminded that this is supposed to be the “time of your life”. But unfortunately, that was not the case for me, and I did not experience the excitement of being a fresher. On the contrary, it felt like that was the worst time of my life. I felt so guilty because I was not enjoying this experience and struggled with many negative thoughts.

It all began at home.

My depression and anxiety started sometime before I went to university. I come from a challenging and troublesome family where my parents always quarrelled, which harmed my mental health. It was very stressful to be at home because sometimes I could get caught in arguments between my parents, and I felt so helpless because I did not know how to stop these fights.

Apple farthest from the tree

I was pressured to succeed academically, so I utilized my knowledge and managed to get out of that house and have some distance from my parents. My father was an alcoholic who did not contribute much to the household finances, so my mother was left as the sole breadwinner. She tended to my younger brother’s needs and also financed my education. She always told me not to turn into my father and constantly reminded me how useless he was.

Coping in solitude

I tried my best in school; however, managing my studies while battling mental health issues was a daily struggle. I ended up avoiding people and kept to myself. I felt like my problems were my burden, and I was afraid people would laugh at me if they knew my story.

 I was depressed, so to deal with the difficulties I was experiencing, I started using drugs to help me forget my problems for a while and live in the moment. Unfortunately, this led to me missing lectures and CATS, affecting my studies. Keeping to myself and using drugs soon became a regular habit. I did not have any friends or family members that I felt I could talk to about my challenges, so this is how I coped with my reality.

My cousin saved me

My cousin transferred to my school, and finally, having him around was a huge relief. At least he knew my family situation, so I did not have to explain so much to him. He noticed how my general health was affected and how I was always a loner. He offered me great company, and we talked about what was happening back home and how that was affecting me. He helped me steer away from drugs and associate with other people. Hearing stories from others made me realize I was not the only one going through a lot.

Finally, something that works

I replaced my drug habit with a love of reading novels, which turned out fine. I now go out more often. I have made a couple of friends who I hang out with as we watch football matches and play basketball. Opening up to someone I could trust started my journey to recovery.

It’s good to understand that in whatever challenge you face, you are not alone, and you can get help and talk to someone you trust.