André Des Rochers recently graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He writes about how he overcame his depression and anxiety as an undergraduate. Depression affects many people and is one of North America’s most common mental health issues.
But it’s not talked about often, making it hard to know what you should do if you struggle with depression, André Des Rochers shares. When I was at UCSB, I struggled with depression and anxiety. I didn’t know it at the time, but looking back, there were a few factors that made my depression worse at that point:
Cultural Disconnection. I felt disconnected from other people. Because we’re so different in our cultural backgrounds (I’m half-Chinese), I felt like no one else out there understood me the way my peers did. André Des Rochers assures that this lack of connection led to loneliness, making me even more depressed and anxious.
Identity Crisis. My identity is half-Chinese, the successful entertainment lawyer states. It made me feel like I had two identities without being able to find common ground with other people. I felt like there were two rules: one for the white students and another for everyone else (Screendaily).
Improper Treatment of Depression and Anxiety. My medication was poor; I couldn’t afford to buy it, André Des Rochers recalls. There was no free advertising like today, where you can call a phone number from a website and get more information about your medications and what you should do if they don’t work well. I struggled with depression and anxiety during my senior year at UCSB. It’s been three years since, but I still struggle with depression occasionally.