Introduction
It has been more than two years since the novel coronavirus has killed millions of people and infected even more people, regardless of the country or continent, which experienced unprecedented disruptions in their lifestyles. The government’s policies to combat the virus included the closure of schools, which intended to ensure the safety of students. However, the closure of my school, concerns about my family’s health, and uncertainties about the future resulted in my anxiety disorder and later diagnosis of depression. In this self-reflection essay, I will describe the causes of my depression and the steps I am taking to overcome it.
Main body
One of the main reasons for my depression was the distress caused by the pandemic. Since the pandemic’s beginning, I have been overwhelmed with the flow of information and uncertainties about the virus’s origin. Being locked in my house, I was forced to study online and do an overwhelming number of tasks in a new format. Besides school, I also had to take care of family members staying at home. As the government’s preventive measures also required limiting our face-to-face interactions, I could not see my friends and attend some extracurricular activities. Even after eliminating all the pandemic-related restrictions, it is difficult to adapt to a “new normal.” In accumulation, these distressing factors led to the feeling of suffocation, social anxiety, and unhealthy rumination about how my foster family treated me badly back in 2013, that later turned to depression.
The depression negatively affected my academic performance as I could not attend school. One of the greatest challenges in my depression was controlling my thoughts, which did not let me focus on my studies. To avoid the reality, I used to sleep a lot, so I failed most of my assignments and received low overall grades. Understanding that I could not deal with these challenges myself, I approached school counseling that prescribed some medications for me. Now, I am still working my way through the challenge, so I will continue seeking some professional help and take antidepressants.
Regarding the ways to overcome depression, counseling and medication are considered the most effective ones. After some period, I started feeling better and even found a new job. According to my counselor, finding a new hobby or activity can distract me from depressive thoughts and decrease my level of anxiety. Having some improvements, I missed some sessions, so I was cut from the counseling sessions. That is why I am now waiting to continue my sessions with the counselor.
I noticed that my relationships with my family members and friends changed throughout this period. I became less socially active and even refused to accept some help from my friends and family. Being trapped in my thoughts, I did not notice that people around me cared about my well-being. However, now I am trying to have more interactions with them. My friends help distract me by listening to music, watching some movies, and doing sports with me. These group activities assist me in returning our close relationships with my friends.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I want to highlight that my most significant challenge is anxiety and depression. These issues were caused by increased uncertainty during the pandemic, followed by concerns about health, studying, and the future. I am seeking professional help from a counselor and taking medication to deal with these challenges. Besides that, my family and friends help distract me and overcome my depressive condition. There is a positive dynamic in my condition as I found a job and will return to normal life. I will continue all of these methods of overcoming this challenge in the future.